LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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THE 



INSTITUTION AND EEGORDS 



New Hampshire Society 



CINCINNATI 



Formed nv the New Hampshire Officers 

OF THE Revolutionary Army of the United States 

i-oR THE Laudable Purposes herein Stated. 



ORGAXIZED NOVEMBER IS, 1783. 
LAST MEETING HELD JULY 4, 1823. 



CONCORD, N. H. : 

Ika C. E\axs, Printer, 13 and 15 Capitoi. Street 

1893. 



t: Zol 



100 Copies. 



tA(V). 



The SoGie^ 
,An24 1912 






THE INSTITUTION AND RECORDS 



NEW HAMPSHIR 



n 



ETY OF THE CINCINNATI 



i783 TO i823. 



PREFATORY NOTE. 

The revival of interest in organizations created to perpetuate the 
memory of the participants in the War for Independence and in 
the study of the history of that period, has attracted attention to 
the record of the New Hampshire branch of the Society of the 
Cincinnati. Our state organization has not had an active ex- 
istence for many years, but the official record came to the cus- 
tody of the New Hampshire Historical Society in 1842. In def- 
erence to the desire expressed in many ways that this record 
should be made more accessible to the public, it has been included 
in this work. 

The present Secretary of the New Hampshire Historical Soci- 
ety, who has consented to this use of the original MSS. volume, 
makes the following statement in reference to it : 

" We cannot honor the New Hampshire heroes of the Revolution 
beyond what they deserve. Men, taken from the common pur- 
suits of life, were changed at once into successful leaders on many 
bloody battlefields, in defense of liberty, of home and country ; 
successful, against the best trained soldiers of Europe, as at Bunker 
Hill and Bennington. The priceless heritage they won, is ours 
to-day. They live in their brave deeds and in every page of their 
history that is preserved. The following letter breathes the true 
spirit, both of preserving their records and honoring their memory 
and their principles : 

North Yarmouth Centre, State of Maine, 
October 24, 1842. 

Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, Cor. Sec'y N. H. H. Society : 
Dear Sir : 

I wish to present to the New Hampshire Historical Society 
(Through the hands of my Nephew, J. Wingate Thornton, Esq.) 
the book and papers of the New Hampshire branch of the Society 
of the Cincinnati, which has become extinct by the death of all the 
members; my Father, Daniel Gookin, was the last of the original 
members, & he has been dead about 12 years. I consider the 
Library of your Societythe most safe & proper place for the de- 



4 PREFATORY NOTE. 

posit of this valuable record of some of our Revolutionary wor- 
thies : & although they have gone to their long home, I hope the 
principles for which they contended may be perpetuated to the 
latest posterity. 

I am, 
Sir, 

Very Respectfullv, 

Your Ob't Serv't, 

John W. Gookin. 

These valuable records and other papers ot' the New Hamp- 
shire Society of the Cincinnati, deserve to be put beyond the pos- 
sibility of being destroyed ; and for this purpose they have been 
very carefully transcribed and prepared for publication. 

C. L. Tappan, Librarian, 

N, H. Historical Society. 
Concord, N. H., July lo, 1893. 



ORDER OF CINCINNATI INSTITUTED A D 1783 



Copy of a letter from the honourable Major General Baron 
Steuben to Major General Sullivan 

Sir/ 

' I have the honour as president of a convention for estab- 
lishing the Society of the Cincinnati to present You with a plan of 
its formation together with Several Resolves which have taken 
place Relative to it. 

The principles on which the Society is founded will I hope meet 
Your Approbation, and engage You to become one of its members 
and supporters. Not only your character apd station in civil live, 
but the superior Rank \^ou held in the Armv of the United States 
point you out as the most proper person in the State of New 
Hampshire, to whom the forming the society in that state can be 
committed. Your friendship for the officers of the American 
Army with whom You were so long Acquainted induces me to be- 
lieve that You will imbrace with pleasure the Opportunity of Join- 
ing them in an institution the chief Motive of which is to perpet- 
uate that Virtuous affection which in so exemplary a manner 
existed among them while in Arms for the defence of their 

Country. — ,,r. , , ,-, 

-' With the greatest Respect 

West-point July 1783 I have the honour to be &c. 

Stuben — 

Maj-- Gen' Sullivan Major Gen> President 



INSTITUTION & REGULATIONS 

CANTONMENTS OF THE AMERICAN ARMY 

ON Hudson's river may io"' 1783. — 

PROPOSALS for establishing a Society upon principles therein 
mentioned. Whose Members shall be Officers of the American 
Army. — having been communicated to the several Regiments of 



6 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

the Respective lines they Appointed An Officer irom each who in 
conjunction with the General Officers should take the same into 
consideration, at their Meeting this day, at which the honourable 
Major General Baron Stuben the Senior Officer present Was 
pleased to preside. — 

The proposals being Read fully considered paragraph by par- 
agraph and the amendments agreed to. 

Major General Knox 

Brigad'' General Hand 

Brigad"" Gen^ Huntington 

And Captain Shaw 

Were Chosen to Revise the 
same and prepare a copy to be laid before this Assembl}^ at their 
Next Meeting to be holden at Maj'" General Baron de Stubens 
Quarters on tuesday the 13*'' Instant. — 

TUESDAY 13^" May 1783.— 

The Representatives of the American Army being assembled 
Agreable to adjournment, the plan for the establishing a Society 
Whereof the Officers of the American Army Are to be members 
is Accepted and is as follows (Viz*) 

It having pleased the Supreme Geoverner of the Universe in 
the disposition of human affairs to cause the Seperation of the 
Colonies of North America from the Domination of Great Britfiin 
and after a bloody conflict of eight Years to establish them free 
Independant and Soveriegn States, — connected by alliances found- 
ed on Reciprocal Advantages with some of the great princes And 
powers of the earth 

To perpetuate therefore as Well the Remembrance of this Vast 
event as the Mutual Friendships which have been formed Under 
the pressure of common danger. And in many instances cemented 
by the blood of the parties. — The officers of the American Army 
do hereby in the Most solemn Manner associate constitute and 
combine themselves into One Society of friends to endure as long 
as they shall endure, or any of their eldest male posterity ; And 
in failure thereof the Collateral branches who may be Judged 
Worthy of becoming its Supporters and Members — 

The Officers of the American Army having generally been taken 
from the Citizens of America posses high Veneration for the Char- 
acter of that Blusterous Roman LUCIUS QIJINTIUS CINCIN- 
NATUS And being Resolved to follow his example by Returning 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 7 

to their Citizenship they think they May with propriety denomi- 
nate themselves the Society of the Cincinnati 

The tbllowing principles shall be immutible and form the basis 
of the Society of the Cincinnati. — 

An incessant attention to preserve inviolate those Rights And 
liberties of human Nature for which they have fought and bled 
and without which the high Rank of a Rational being is a curse 
instead of a blessing. — 

An Unalterable determination to promote And cherish betwen 
the Respective States that Union and National honour so essen- 
tiallv Necessary to their happiness and the future dignity of the 
American Empire. — 

To Render perminant the cordial Affection subsisting among 
the officers. — this spirit will dictate brotherly kindness in all 
things, and particularl}^ extend to the most substantial Acts of 
beniticence According to the Ability of the Society towards those 
Officers And their families who Unfortunatly may be Under the 
Necessity of Recieving it. — 

The General Society will for the sake of frequent communica- 
tions be Divided into State Societies, and those again into such 
destricts as shall be directed by the State Societies. — 

The Societies of the destricts to meet as shall be agreed Upon 
by the State Society, those of the State on the fourth day of July 
Annually or Oftener if they shall find it expedient ; And the Gen- 
eral Society on the first Monday in May Annually so long as they 
shall deem Necessary And after wards at least once in three 
Years. — 

At each Meeting the principles of the Institution Will be fully 
considered, and the best Measures to promote them Adopted. — 

The State Societies will consist of all the Members Residing in 
each State Respectively ; and Any Members Removing from one 
State to another is to be considered in all Respects as belonging 
to the Society of the State in which he shall Actually Reside — 

The State Society to have a President Vice President Secretary 
Treasurer and assistant Treasurer to be chosen annually by a 
Majority of Votes at the State Meeting 

Each State meeting shall Write Annually, or oftner if Neces- 
sary a Circular letter to the Other State Societies, Noting what- 
ever they May think Worthy of Observation Respecting the good 
of the Society or the General Union of the States and give infor- 
mation of the Officers chosen for the Current Year. Copies of 
their letters should be Regularly transmitted to the Secretary Gen- 



8 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

eral of the Society, Who will Record them in a book Assigned 
for that purpose. — 

The State Society will Regulate every thing Respecting itself 
and the Societies of its destricts, Consistant with the General 
Maxims of the CINCINNATI. Judge of the quaHiications of the 
members who may be proposed and expel an}- Member who by 
conduct inconsistant with a gentleman and a man of honour, or 
by an Opposition to the Interest of the Community in General ; or 
the Society in particular may Render himself Unworthy to Con- 
tinue a Member. 

In Order to form funds which may be Respectable, and assist 
the Unfortunate each Officer shall deliver to the Treasurer of the 
State Society One month's pay which shall Remain forever to the 
Use of the State Society, the interest of which (if necessary) shall 
be appropriated to the Relief of the Unfortunate. — 

Donations may be made by persons not of the Society, and by 
members of the Society for the express purpose of forming per- 
manent funds for the Use of the State Societies and the interest of 
these donations appropriated in the Same Manner as the Months 

Monies at the pleasure of each member May be subscribed in 
the Societies of the destricts or the State Societies, for the Relief 
of the Unfortunate members or their Widows and Orphans, to be 
appropriated b}- the State Society Only. — 

The Meeting of the General Society shall consist of its Officers 
and Representatives from each State Society, in Members not ex- 
ceeding five, whose expenses shall be born by their Respective 
State Societies. — 

In the General Meeting the President Vice President Secretary 
assistant Secretary Treasurer and assistant Treasurer Generals 
shall be chosen to serve Until the next Meeting 

The Circular letters which have been Written by the Respective 
State Societies to each Other and their particular letters shall be 
Read and considered And all measures concerted which may con- 
duce to the General contentment of the Society. — 

It is probable that Some persons may make donations to the 
General Society for the purpose of establishing funds for the fur- 
ther comfort of the Unfortunate. — in which case such donations 
must be placed in the hands of the Treasurer General the interest 
only of which to be disposed of by the General Meeting. — 

All the Officers of the American Army as well those w^ho have 
Resigned with honour after three Years service in the capacity of 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 9 

Officers or who have been deranged by the Resolution of Con- 
gress Upon the several Reforms of the Army as those w^ho shall 
have continued to the end of the War, have a Right to become 
parties to this Institution ; provided that they subscribe one Months 
pav and sign their Names to the General Rules in their Respect- 
ive Societies, those who are present with the Army immediately, 
and Others Within six Months after the Army shall be disbanded, 
extroidnary cases excepted. — 

The Rank time of service Resolution of Congress by which 
they have been Deranged and place of Residence must be added 
to each Name, And as a Testimony of affection to the memory 
of the Offspring of such Officers who have died in the service 
their eldest Male branches shall have the same Right of becoming 
members as the Children of the Actual Members of the Society. — 

Those Officers who are foreigners not Residing in any of the 
states, will have their Names enroled by the Secretary General 
And Are to be considered as members in the societies of any of 
the States in which they may happen to be. — 

And as there are and will at all times be men in the Respective 
States eminent for their Abilities and Patriotism w^hose Views 
may be directed to the same laudable objects with those of the 
CINCINNATI it shall be a Rule to admit such Charactors as 
honorary Members of the Society for their Own lives Only pro- 
vided allways that the Number of honorar}^ Members in each state 
does not exceed a Ratio of One to tour of the Officers Or their 
descendants. — 

Each State Society shall Obtain a list of its Members And at 
the first annual Meeting the State Secretary shall have ingross'' 
On parchment two Copies of the Institution of the Society which 
every member present shall sign. And the Secretary shall en- 
deavour to procure the signature of every Absent Member. — One 
of those lists to be transmitted to the Secretary General to be kept 
in the Archives of the Society, And the Other to Remain in the 
hands of the State Secretary. — 

From the State list the Secretary General must Make out at the 
first General Meeting a compleat list of the whole Society, with a 
copy of which he will furnish each State Secretary. 

The Society shall have an Order by which its members shall be 
known and distinguish'd. Which shall be a Medal of Gold of a 
proper size to Recieve the emblems and suspended by a deep blue 
Ribbon two Inches Wide edged with white descriptive of the Union 
of America And France 

Viz^ 



lO STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

The principal Figure Cincinnatus three senators presenting him 
with a sword And Other Military ensigns in the field On the back 
ground his wife standing in the door of their Cottage Near it a 
plow and Other instruments of husbandr}'. — 

Round the Whole 

OMNIA RELIQUIT SERVARE REMPUBLICAM 

On the Reverse 

Sun Rising a City with Open gates and Vessels entering the 

port. — Fame crowning CINCINNATUS with a wreath inscribed 

VIRTUTIS PRAEMIUM Below Hands Joined supporting a 

heart with the motto ESTO PERPETUA 

Round the Whole 
SOCIETAS CINCINNATORUM INSTITUTA AD 1783.— 
The Society deeply impressed with a sense of the generous As- 
sistance this Country has Recieved from trance And desirous to 
perpetuate the friendships which have been formed and so happily 
Subsisted between the Officers of the allied forces in the prosecu- 
tion of the War ; direct that the President General transmit as 
soon as may be to each of the Characters hereafter Named a 
medal containing the Order of the Society Viz^ 
His Excellency the chevalier de la Luzerne 
Minister Plenipotentiary 
Their Excellencies — the Count De Estaing 
the Count De Grasse 
the Count De Barras 
the Chevalier de Touches 
Admirals and commanders of the Navy. — 
His Excellency the Count De Rochambeau Commander in 
chief. — and the Generals and Colonels in his Army. — And Ac- 
quaint them that the Society do themselves the honour to consider 
them Members. — 

We the Subscribers Officers of the American Army do hereby 
Voluntarily become parties to the foregoing Institution and do 
bind Ourselves to Observe and be geoverned by the principles 
therein contained for the performance whereof We do pledge to 
each Other Our sacred honour. — 

Done in the Cantonments on Hudsons River in the year 1783 
That the members of the Society at the time of subscribing their 
Names to the Institution do alson sign a draught on the paymaster 
General in the following Manner. — the Regiments to do it Regi- 
mentally ; and the Generals and Other Officers not belonging to 
Regiments each for himself individually Viz^ 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. II 

To John Pierce, Esq'r, Paymaster General to the 

United Army of the United States 

Sir 

Please pay to Treasurer for the 

State association of the CINCINNATI or his Order One Months 
pay of our Several Grades Respectively and deduct the same 
from the ballance which shall be found due to us on the final 
liquidation of our Accounts for which this shall ht Your War- 
rant. — 

That the Members of the several State Societies Assemble as 
soon as may be for the Choice of their President and Other Officers, 
and that the Presidents correspond together and appoint a meeting 
of Officers who, may be chosen for each State in Order to pursue 
such further Measures as may be Judged Necessary. 

That the General Officers and the Officers delegated to Repre- 
sent the several Corps of the Army subscribe to the institution of 
the General Society for themselves And their constituents, in the 
Manner and form before proscribed. — 

That General Heath 

Gen' De Baron Stuben 
And General Knox 

be a committee to Wait On his Excellency 
the Commander in Chief With a copy of the institution and Re- 
quest him to honour the Society by puting his Name at the head 
of it. — 

That Major General Heath second in command in the Army be 
and hereby is directed to transmit Copies of the institution with 
the proceedings thereon to the Commanding Officers of the South- 
ern Army : the Senior Officer in each State from Pensylvania to 
Georgia inclusive And to the commanding Officer of the Rhode 
Island Line Requesting them to communicate the same to the 
officers Under their several Commands And to take such Meas- 
ures as May appear to them Necessary for expediting the Estab- 
lishment of their State Societies and sending Delegates to Repre- 
sent them in the first general Meeting to be holden on the first 
Monday in May 1784. — 

The Meeting then Adjourned without day. 

Stuben 
Major Gen' President 



12 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

CANTONMENTS OF THE AMERICAN ARMY 

June 15'" 1783.— 

At a meetincr of the General Officers and the Gentlemen dele- 
gated by the Respective Regiments as a Convention for establish- 
ing the Society of the Cincinnati held by the Request of the Pres- 
ident at which were present. — 

Major General Baron de Stuben President 
M. Gen. How^e B. Gen. Putnam Col. H Jackson 

M. Gen. Knox Colonel Webb Cap' Shaw 

B. Gen. Patterson L'. Col. Huntington L' Col. Hull 

B. Gen. Hand Maj"" Pettingill Col. Cortlandt 

B. Gen Huntington L' Whiting L' Col. Maxwell 

General Baron de Stuben Acquainted the Convention that he 
had Agreable to their Request at the last meeting transmitted to 
his Excellency the Chevalier De La Luzerne Minister Plenipoten- 
tiary from the Court of France a Copy of the Institution of the 
CINCINNATI with their Vote Respecting his Excellency and 
the other Characters therein mentioned and that his Excellency 
had Returned an Answer declaring his acceptance of the same 
and expressing the grateful sense he entertains of the honour con- 
fered on himself and the Other Gentlemen of the French Nation 
by this Act of the Convention. — 

Resolved That the Letter of the Chevalier De La Luzerne be 
Recorded in the proceedings of this day And depositted in the Ar- 
chives of the Society as a testimony of the high sense this Con- 
vention entertains of the honour done to the Society by his becom- 
ing a Member thereof. — 

The Baron having also communicated a letter from Major L'En- 
fant enclosing a design for the Medal and Order containing the 
emblems of the institution 

Resolved That the Bald-eagle carrying the emblems on its breast 
be established as the ORDER of the Society, and that the Ideas 
of Major L'Enfant Respecting it and the Manner of its being worn 
by the members as expressed in his letter hereto annexed, be 
adopted. — That the Order be of the same size. And in every 
Other Respect conformable to the said design, which for that pur- 
pose is certified by the Baron de Stuben, President of this Con- 
vention And to be deposited in the Archives of the Society as the 
Origional from which all Copies are to be made also. That silver 
medals not exceeding the size of a Spanish Mill'' Dollar with the 
emblems as designed by Major L'Enfant and certified by the Pres- 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 13 

ident be given to each and every Member of the Society together 
with a diploma on parchment Wheron shall be impressed the ex- 
act figure of the Order and Medal as above mentioned any thing 
in the Origional institution, Respecting gold Medals to the contrary 
Notwithstanding — 

Resolved That the thanks of this convention be transmitted by 
the President to Major L'Enfant for his care and ingenuity in pre- 
paring the aforementioned designs, and that he be Acquainted 
that they chearfully embrace his Offer of assistance and Request 
a continuance of his attention in carrying the designs into Execu- 
tion, for which purpose the President is desired to correspond with 
him. — 

Resolved That his Excellency the commander in Chief be Re- 
quested to officiate as President General Untill the first General 
fleeting to be held in May next 

That a Treasurer General and a Secretary General be ballotted 
for, to officiate in like Manner 

The ballots being taken Major General McDougall was elected 
Treasurer General, and Major General Knox, Sec-^' Gen^ Who 
Are hereby Requested to Accept said Appointments. — 

Resolved That all the proceedings of this Convention including 
the institution of the Society be Recorded from the Origional pa- 
pers in his possession by Cap* Shaw, Who at the first Meeting was 
Requested to Act as Secretary and that the same signed by the 
Preside [n]t and Secretary together with the Original papers be 
given into the hands of Major General Knox Secretary Gen- 
eral to the Society, and that Cap* North, Aide de Camp to the 
Baron de Stuben And Acting Secretary to him as President sign 
the said records. — 

The dissolution of a Very considerable part of the army since 
the last meeting of this convention having Rendered the Attend- 
ance of some of its members impracticable, And the Necessity of 
some temporary Arrangements previous to the first meeting of the 
General Society being so strikingly obvious, the Convention found 
itself constrained to make those beforementioned, Which they 
have done with the Utmost diffidence of themselves And Relying 
intirely on the candor of their constituents to make allowance for 
the Measure. — The principal object of its appointment being 
thus Accomplished the Members of the Convention think fit to 
dissolve the same and it is hereby dissolved Accordingly 

Stuben 
Major Gen' President 



14 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Major General Sullivan having Recieved from Major Gen' the 
Baron de Stuben the foregoing letter with the transactions of the 
General Convention as here Recorded together with a Copy of the 
emblem of the Order as designed by Major L'Enfant proceeded to 
Notifie the persons pointed out as tit members for the Society of 
the CINCINNATI to meet at Col. Samuel Folsams at Exeter on 
Tuesday the 18"' day of November A D 1783 for the purpose of 
forming a State Society for the State of New Hampshire. — 

EXETER TUESDAY November i8^'> 1783.— 

Then met in Convention the following Gentlemen Viz' 
Major General Sullivan Col. Cilley L' Col. Commandant Dear- 
born 

Cap* Cass, Cap* Sullivan, Cap* Munro, 

Cap* M^Clary, Lieu* Mills, Lieu* Gookin, 

Lieu* Adams, Lieu* Cilley, Lieu* McGaffey, 

Lieu* Wilkins And Lieu* Emerson. — 
And after hearing and Approving the Regulations for the 
Order of the CINCINNATI proceeded to choose Major Gen' Sul- 
livan Chairman. — 

And Cap* Sullivan Clerk Pro tem. to Record the Minutes. — 
The Gentlemen Above Named As Met in convention. Unani- 
mously Voted 

That they chearfully embrace the Opportunity of forming a 
Society in this State And hereby engage to become Members of the 
Order of the CINCINNATI, and to Regulate themselves. And 
support the honour and intent of the istitution According to the 
Regulations transmitted by the honourable Major General Baron 
de Stuben to the Honourable Major Gen' Sullivan. 

They then proceeded to sign the following Covenant. — Viz* 
We the subscribers Officers of the American Army do hereby 
Voluntarily become parties to the foregoing institution And bind 
Ourselves to Observe and be Geoverned by the principles therein 
contained : for the performance Whereof We do pledge to each 
Other Our Sacred honour. 

Done at Exeter this 18*'' day of November in the Year 1783 
After signing the Members proceeded to elect by ballot the 
officers prescribed by the institution. — 
The ballots being taken 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 15 

Major Gen* Sullivan Was elect*^ President 
L*^ Col : Com**' Dearborn . . Vice President 

Cap* Sullivan .... Secretary 
Col Cilley .... Treasurer, and 
Cap' Cass .... assistant Treasurer 
The Society being formed And after duly considering the 
method proposed for establishing a Fund for the Society for the 
purposes and in the manner prescribed by the institution commu- 
nicated by Baron de Stuben. — 

It is considered by members of this Society that a Number of 
the members have no Right to draw Bills on John Pierce Esq'' 
Paymaster General to the United-Army of the United States — 

It is therefore Resolved That the fund for this Society be estab- 
lished by each Member's depositing in the hands of the treasurer 
General for this Society (instead of Bills on the Paymaster Gen- 
eral of the United Arm}' of the United States) public security of 
the State of New Hampshire to the Amount of one month's pay 
for his services in the office he held in the American Army. — 

Which security by the members who have now signed and who 
shall sign on the Next Meeting of the Society shall at that time 
be deposited in the hands of the Treasurer General — 

Voted, That the Secretary be directed to make out A Copy of 
the proceedings of this meeting together With a Notification to 
such persons as have a Right to Join the Society that they may 
give their attendance at the time and place to which this Society 
shall think proper to Adjourn ; And that he cause the same to be 
published in the New Hampshire Gazette — 

Voted that the Society do adjourn to Wednesday the Seventh 
day of January next at ten of the Clock in the forenoon then to 
meet at this place 

By order of the Society 

Eben^ Sullivan Secretary. — 

COVENANT 

We the subscribers Officers of the American Army do hereby 
Voluntarily become Members of the foregoing institution ; and do 
bind Ourselves to Observe and be Geoverned by the principles 
therein contained — 

For the performance Whereof We do pledge to each Other 
sacred honour — 

Done at Exeter this i8"' day of November in the Year 1783. — 



i6 



STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 









time of Resignation, or 




Names 


Rank 


Time of 


Resolution of Con- 


Place of 






Service 


gress by which they 
were derang** 


Residence 


Jno Sullivan 


M Gen' 


4 years & 6 
months 


Resigned nov 19 1779 


Durham 


Jos Cilley 


Col. 


5 Years 6 m" 


Deranged 3'' & 21^' 
Octo»' 1780 


Nottingham 


Henry Dearborn 


L' Col: 
Comm'' 


7 Years 10 m 




Exeter 


Jonathan Cass 


Cap' 


6 Years 4 m 


Deranged i"' March 
1783 


Exeter 


Eben'" Sullivan 


Cap' 


7 Years 9 m'' 


Deranged 


Durham 


Joseph jMills 


Lieut. 


6 years 
f a soldier i 
1 yr — 7M0S 


end of ye War 


Notingham 










Daniel Gookin 


Lieu' 


■{ an officer 

6. 6 six 

1^ year— 6 m" 


End of the War 


North-Hampton 










Sam'l Adams 


Lieu' 








Josiah Alunro. 


Capt. 








Jonathan Cilley 


Lieu' 








Neal M^'Gaffey 


Lieu' 








Michi M«Clary 


Cap' 


4 years 


Octi- 1779 


Epsom 


Signed February 5"' 1784 — 


W" Parker j'- 


Suro;. 


3 Years 4 m^ 


Resigned Nov 1778 


Exeter 


Nichs Gilman 


Cap' 


6 Years 3 m 


Deranged 


Exeter 


Josh* Merrow 


Lieut 








Amos Emerson 


Cap' 


5 Years 


Resigned .March 1780 


Chester 



James Harvey M^Clary Son to the late Major M^Clary 
killed at the Battle of Bunker hill 



Epsom 



John Adams 


Lieu' 


to the end of 
the War. 




Stratham 


Joseph Boynton 


Lieu' 


7 Years 


Deranged 


Stratham 


Sam' Cherry 


Cap' 


8 Years 


to the end of war 


Londonderrv 


Isaac Frye 


Cap' 


9 Years 


to the end of war 


Wilton 


W Rowell 


Cap' 


8 Years 


Ditto 


Epping 


Jonath Perkins 


Leiu' 


6 years 


Ditto 


Ditto 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 



17 



Names. 



Rank. 



Time of 
Service. 



Adna Peiiniman 
John Harvey 
Jere: Fogg 

Jere'* Prichard 
James Reed 



Cap' 

U 

Cap' 

I Liu' 

jB General 8 3ears 



4 years 
4 years 
Eight years 

Six Months 
3 Years 8 iM" 



Time of Resignation, or 
Resolution of Con- 
gress by which they 
were deranged. 



derang'd 

the end of y« War 

End of the War 

July 1780 — 
end of the war 



Place of 
Residence. 



Moultonborough 

Northwood 

Kensington 

Hollas 
Keene — 



Jn" Sullivan Son to the late Cap' Ebenf Sullivan deceas«i 
Joseph Mills Son to the late L' Joseph Mills deceased 
John W. Gookin, Son of Lieut. Daniel Gookin deceased 

A Capt in the U. S. Army from 1812 to 18 15 during 

the late war 

[The following do not appear to have signed the covenant, but 
were received members of the Society : — 

Robert Wilkins, Lieut., appears as a member, 1796. 

Mr. John Sullivan, son of Gen. Sullivan, 1797. 

Mr. Bradbury Cilley, son of Col. Joseph Cille}^ 1800. 

Capt. Amos Cogswell, from Massachusetts, 1801. 

Col. Seth Walker, applied to be Honorary Mem. 1805. 

Col. Nathaniel White, 1805. 

Adams, son of Lt. Samuel Adams, 1818.] 

EXETER January 7^" 1784 — 

Then Met According to Adjournment 

The President and Vice President being absent Cap' Cass Was 
appointed President P : T : 

Voted That as the travelling is such that few members could 
attend : this Meeting proceed to no business Relative to the soci- 
ety at this time but adjourn to some future day. — 

Voted That the Meeting of this Society Stand further Adjourned 
to thursday the fifth day of February Next, then to meet at this 
place at 10 O'Clock A: M: — That the Secretary be directed to 
Notifie the persons concerned to give their Attendance on the 
Adjournment by publishing the same in the New Hampshire 
Gazette. — j^^^,.^ ^^^^^ p^^^^t p_ x. 

By Order of the Society 

Eben'' Sullivan Secr^ 



l8 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



EXETER February 5^" 1784. 

Then met according to adjournment the President being absent 
the Vice President Presided. — 

After Several Members Joining whose Names are herein en- 
roled. — 

It is considered by the Society that as it is probable this Society 
not knowing where the Next annual meeting of the General Soci- 
ety will be held May be Unable to send on a Member timely to 
Represent them in the General Meeting 

Resolved in case a member should not be sent that the Society 
Request the President to Represent by letter to the General Soci- 
ety the state of this Society, And Request such information as he 
shall think Necessary at the same time making known to the Gen- 
eral Society that the members of this Society wish to be consid- 
ered as fully desirous of complying with every Regulation pre- 
scribed by the General Society and will to the extent of their 
Ability conform themselves thereto. — 

Resolved That this Society adjourn to the fourth day of July 
next being the day proposed by the institution for the Annuel 
Meeting of the state societies, — then to meet at Col. Samuel Fol- 
soms in Exeter at ten of the Clock in the forenoon And that the 
Secretary be directed to cause the same to be published in the New 
Hampshire Gazette. — 

Henry Dearborn Vice Pres'" 

By order of the Society 

Eben"" Sullivan Secretary 

EXETER April 2'"' 1784 

At a meeting of the New Hampshire State Society of the Cin- 
cinnati held by Request of the President for the purpose of see- 
ing whither the Society will agree to send a Member to Represent 
them in the General Meeting to be held at Philadelphia On the 
first Monday in May next. — 

The Motion being put Unanimously agreed to send a Member 
which is to be chosen by ballot. — 

The ballots being taken Lieu*^ Col : Dearbourn was appointed. — 

Passed, That the society Raise one hundred and sixty three 
Dollars which at present is to be Raised by subscription and paid 
in to Col. Dearbourn at Exeter by the subscribers within Eight 
days from this date which said sum shall be Refunded to the sub- 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 



19 



scribers with interest Out of the public stock soon as may be found 
Convenient by the Treasurer Gen' of this state. 
Sums subscribed are as follows. — Y\z^ 



Subscribers 


Sum in 
Doll« 


Subscribers 


Sum in 
Dol]« 


Gen' Sullivan . 
Col Cilley 
Cap' Sullivan . 
Cap' Cass 
Cap' Adams . 
L' Adams 


forty 40 
Twenty 20 
Ten 10 

Ten 10 
Ten 10 
Eight 8 


1.' Cilley 
Cap' Boyenton 
L' Gookin 
Doc^ Parker . 
L' Mills 
Cap' Gilman . 


Ten 10 
Ten ID 
Eight 8 
Twelve 12 
Ten 10 
fifteen 1 5 



passed That this society Do adjourn to Monday the fifth day of 
July Next at ten of the Clock in the forenoon then to meet at this 
place the day Appointed by the institution for the annual Meeting 
of the State Societies happening on Sunday a day which this 
society hold too sacred for any business except the Worship of the 
divine being 

Jn<^ Sullivan pres*^' 

Eben'" Sullivan Secretary. 

EXETER Monday May [July] 5"' 1784.— 

Met according to adjournment. — 
The society proceeded to the choice of Officers. — 
The following persons were Elected by Ballot. Viz* — 
Major General Sullivan . . President 

Col. Cilley .... 
Cap* Sullivan 
Cap* McClary 

Cap* Cass .... 
The society took under consideration the circular letter of Gen- 
eral Society of the 15*'' of Ma}' last : And After some debate 
thereon, 

Voted, That Gen' Sullivan Col. Cilley & Major Fogg be a 
Committee to draught An Answer thereto ; And lay the same be- 
fore the Society at their next Meeting 

Voted That the present Treasurer Wait on the late Treasurer 
for the State securities Now in his hands who is Requested to 



Vice President 
Secretary 
Treasurer 
assistant Treasurer 



20 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

deliver over the same and take the present Treasurers Reciept 
therefor. — 

Voted To Accept Col : Henry Dearborn's Account Amounting 
to Seventy Six pounds lour Shillings and Eight pence for his time 
and expences attending the Gen' Meeting at Philadelphia. — 

Voted That the Treasurer Recieve certificates for interest on 
the Puolic Securities belonging to the Society and convert the 
same into cash for the purpose of paying the Ballances due from 
the Society — 

Voted That the Treasurer apportion the expences of our late 
Representation among the several Members and Notify them to 
pay their Respective quota's thereof 

Voted That the ballance of Col. Dearborns account After de- 
ducting his proportion be first paid and then the ballances due to 
Members who have advanced Money to the Society after deduct- 
ing their Respective proportions of the expence incured by the late 
Representation at the Gen' Meeting. — 

Voted That the Meeting Stand Adjourned to Thursday the third 
day of February next 

CIRCULAR LETTER FROM THE GENERAL MEETING 

To the State Society of the CINCINNATI, In New Hampshire 
Gentlemen, 

We the Delegates of the CINCINNATI, after the Most Mature 
and deliborate discussion of the principles And Objects of our 
Society, have thought proper to Recommend that the inclosed 
" Institution of the Society of the CINCINNATI, as altered and 
Amended at their first meeting," Should be adopted by Your State 
Society. — 

In Order that our conduct on this Occasion may stand approved 
in the eyes of the world, that we may Not incur the imputations 
of Obstinacy on the one hand, or levity on the other, and that you 
May be induced more Chearfully to comply with Our Recommen- 
dation, We beg leave to communicate the Reasons on which We 
have Acted. — 

Previous to Our laying them before you, we hold it a duty to 
ourselves and our fellow Citizens to declare, and we call heaven 
to Witness the Veracity of Our declaration, that in Our whole 
agency on this subject, We have been Actuated by the purest 
principles. — 

Notwithstanding we are thus conscious for ourselives of the 
Rectitude of our intentions in instituting or becoming Members of 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 21 

this Fraternity ; and Notwithstanding we are confident the high- 
est evidence can be produced from your past, and will be given 
by your future behaviour, that you could Not have been in- 
fluenced b}^ any Other Motives than those of friendship, Patriotism 
And benevolence : Yet as our designs in some Respects have 
been Misapprehended ; as the instrument of our association was 
of Necessity drawn up in a hasty Manner, at an epoha as extra- 
ordinarv as it will be memorable in the annals of mankind when 
the mind agitated by a Variety of emotions, was Not a liberty to 
attend Minutly to every circumstance which Respected our Social 
connection, or to digest our ideas in so correct a form as could 
have been wished ; as the Original Institution appeared m the 
opinion of many Respectable charactors to liave comprehended 
objects incompatable with the genius and spirit of the confedera- 
tion ; and as in this case it would eventually frustrate our pur- 
poses, and be productive of consequences which we had not fore- 
seen: therefore, to Remove every cause of inquietude, to Annihi- 
late everv scource of Jealousy, to disignate explicitly the ground 
on which we wis[h] to stand, and give one more proof that the 
late officers of the American Army have a Claim to be Reckoned 
Among the most faithful Citizens, we have agreed that the follow- 
ing material alterations and amendments should take place : — 

That the hereditary succession should be abolished — that all 
interference with political subjects should be done away — and 
that the funds should be placed under the immediate Cognizance 
of the several Legislatures who should also be requested to grant 
Charters for more effectually carrying our humane designs into 
execution. — 

In giving our reason for the alteration in the first article we 
must ask vour indulcrence while we recal your attention to the 
original occasion which induced us to form ourselves into a so- 
ciety of friends — Having lived in the strictest habits of Amit}' 
thro the various stages of a war, unparalled in many of its circum- 
stances ; having seen the objects for which we contended happily 
attained in the moment of triumph and separation when we were 
about to act the last pleasing melancholy scene in our military 
Drama — pleasing because we were to leave our country possessed 
of Independence & Peace melancholy because we were to part 
perhaps never to meet again — while every breast was penetrated 
with feelings which can be more easily conceived than described ; 
while every little act of tenderness recurred fresh to the recollec- 
tion ; it was impossible not to wish our friendship should be con- 



22 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

tinued ; it was extremely natural to desire the might be perpetuated 
by our posterity to the remotest ages. With these impressions, and 
with such sentiments we candidly confess we signed the institution. 
We know our motives were irreproachable. But finding it appre- 
hended by many of our countrymen that this would be drawing 
an unjustifiable line of discrimination betw'een our descendants 
and the rest of the Community and averse to the creation of 
unnecessary and unpleasing distinctions we could not hesitate to 
relinquish every thing but our personal friendships of which we 
cannot be divested and those acts of beneficence, which it is our 
intention should flow from them — 

With views equally pure and disinterested we proposed to use 
our collective influence in support of that government and con- 
firmation of that Union the establishment of which had engaged 
so considerable a part of our lives ; but learning from a variet}' of 
information that this is deemed an officious and improper interfer- 
ence and that if we are not charged with having sinister designs, 
yet we are accused of arrogating too much and assuming the 
guardianship of the liberties of our country — thus circumstanced 
we could not think of opposing ourselves to the concurring 
opinions of our fellow citizens however founded, or of giving 
anxiety to those whose happiness it is our interest and duty to 
promote — 

We come next to speak of the charitable part of our institution 
which we esteem the basis of it. By placing your fund in the 
hands of the legislature of your state and letting them see the 
application is to the best purposes, you will demonstrate the integ- 
rity of your Actions, as well as the recdtude of your principles. 
And having convinced them 3'Our intentions are only of a friendly 
and benevolent nature we are induced to believe they will patron- 
ize a design which they cannot but approve : that they will foster 
the good dispositions and encourage the beneficent acts of those 
who are disposed to make use of the most effectual and most 
unexceptionable mode of relieving the distressed. For this pur- 
pose it is to be hoped that Charters ma}' be obtained in conse- 
quence of the applications which are directed to be made. It is 
also judged most proper y' the admission of members should 
be submitted to the regulation of such charters : because by thus 
acting in conformity to the sentiments of government we not only 
give another instance of our reliance upon it, but of our disposition 
to remove every source of uneasiness respecting our society. — 

We trust it has not escaped our attention. Gentlemen, that the 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 23 

only objects of which we are desirous to preserve the remembrance 
are of such a nature as cannot be displeasing to our countrymen 
or unprofitable to Posterity : we have retained accordingly those 
devices which recognize the manner of our returning to our citi- 
zenship ; not as ostentatious marks of our discrimination, but as 
pledges of our friendship, and emblems whose appearance will 
never permit us to deviate from the paths of virtue. — And we 
presume in this place it may not be inexpedient to inform that 
these are considered as the most endearing tokens of friendship, 
and held in the highest estimation by such of our Allies as have 
become intitled to them by having contributed their personal serv- 
ices to the establishment of our independence — that these gen- 
tlemen who are among the first in rank and reputation have been 
permitted bv their sovereign to hold this grateful memorial of our 
reciprocal Affections — and that this fraternal intercourse is 
viewed by that illustrious Monarch and other distinguished Char- 
acters as no small additional cement to that harmony and recip- 
rocation of good Offices which so happily prevail between the 
two Nations. — 

Having now relinquished whatever has been found objectionable 
in our Original institution ; having by the deference thus paid to 
the prevailing sentiments of the community, neither as we con- 
ceive lessened the dignity, nor diminished the consistency of char- 
acter, which it is our Ambition to support in the eyes of the 
present as well as of future generations ; having thus removed 
every possible objection to our remaining connected as a society 
and cherishing our mutual friendships to the close of life : and 
havinir, as we flatter ourselves, retained in its utmost latitude 
and placed upon a more certain and permanent foundation 
that primary article of our Association which respects the unfort- 
unate — on these two great original pillars, FRIENDSHIP 
and CHARITY, we rest our institution ; and we appeal to your 
liberalitv, patriotism and magnanimity: — to your conduct on 
every other occasion, as well as to the purity of 3'our intentions 
on the present, tor the ratification of our proceedings ; at the same 
time we are happy in expressing a full confidence in the candor 
justice and integrity of the publick, that the institution as now 
altered and amended will be perfectly satisfactory, and that acts 
of legislative authority will soon be passed to give efficacy to your 
benevolence — Before we conclude this address permit us to add, 
that the cultivation of that Amity we profess, and the extension of 
this charity, we flatter ourselves, will be objects of sufficient 



34 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

importance to prevent a relaxation in the prosecution of them to 
diffuse comtbrt and support to any of our unfortunate companions, 
who have seen better days and merited a milder fate — to wipe 
the tear from the eve of the widow who must have been consigned 
with her helpless infants, to indigence and wretchedness but for 
this charitable institution ; — to succour the fatherless to rescue the 
female orphan from destruction ; to enable the son to emulate the 
virtues of his father, will be no unpleasing task ; it will communi- 
cate happiness to others, while it increases our own ; it will cheer 
our solitar}' reflections and sooth our latest moments. Let us then 
prosecute with Ardor what we have instituted in sincerity ; let 
Heaven and our consciences approve our conduct ; let our Actions 
be the best comment on our words and let us leave a lesson to 
posterity that the glory of soldiers cannot be completed without 
acting well the part of'CITIZENS.— 

Signed by Order 

G Washington 
Philadelphia May 15'" 1784 — 

The INSTITUTION of the SOCIETY of the CINCINNATI 
as altered and amended at their first general meeting. — 

It having pleased the great Governour of y"' universe to give 
success to the Arms and to establish the UNITED STATES free 
and independent : therefore gratefully to commemorate this event, 
— to inculcate to latest ages, the duty of laying down in peace 
arms assumed for public defence, by forming an institution which 
recognizes that most important Principle; to continue the mutual 
friendships which commenced under the pressure of common dan- 
ger; — and to effectuate the acts of beneficence, dictated by the 
spirit of brotherly kindness towards those officers and their fami- 
lies who unfortunately may be under the necessity of receiving 
them, the Officers of the American Arm}^ do hereby constitute 
themselves into a SOCIETY of FRIENDS : and possessing the 
highest veneration for the character of that illustrious Roman, 
LUCIUS QUINTUS CINCINNATUS denominate themselves 
the SOCIETY of the CINCINNATI.— 

Section i — The persons who constitute this Society are all the 
commissioned and Brevet Officers of the ARMY & NAVY of 
the UNITED STATES, who have served three years and who 
left the service with Reputation ; all officers who were in actual 
service at the conclusion of the War : all the principal staff offi- 
cers of the continental army : and the Officers who have been 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 25 

deranged by the several resolutions of Congress upon the different 
reforms of the army. — 

Sect. 2. There are also admitted into this society, the late & 
present Ministers of his most Christian Majesty to the UNITED 
STATES ; all the GENERALS and COLONELS of regiments 
& legions of the land forces ; all the ADMIRALS and CAP- 
TAINS of the Navy ranking as Colonels who have cooperated 
with the armies of the UNITED STATES in their exertions for 
LIBERTY ; and such other persons as have been admitted by the 
respective State Meetings — 

Sect. 3 The Society shall have a PRESIDENT Vice President 
Secretary and Assistant Secretary. — 

Sect 4 There shall be a meeting of the society at least once in 
Three Years on y'' first MONDAY in MAY at such place as the 
President shall appoint. — The said meeting shall consist of the 
aforesaid Officers whose expences shall be equally borne by the 
State funds) and a Representation from each state. — The busi- 
ness of the general meeting shall be, — to regulate the distribu- 
tion of surplus funds, — to appoint officers for the ensuing term, 
and to conform the bye-laws of State-meetings to the general 
Objects of the institution. — 

Section 5 The SOCIETY shall be divided into State meetings : 
each meeting shall have a President Vice President Secretary and 
Treasurer respectively ; to be chosen bv a Majority of Votes 
annually. 

Section 6"' The State meetings shall be on the Anniversary of 
INDEPENDENCE ; they shall concert such measures as may 
conduce to the benevolent purposes of the SOCIETY : and the 
several State meetings shall, at suitable Periods make application 
to their respective Legislatures for grants of Charters. — 

Section 7 Any Member removing from one State to another is 
to be considered in all respects as belonging to the meeting of the 
State in which he shall actually reside — 

Section 8"' The State meeting shall judge of the qualifications 
of its Members admonish and (if necessary) expel any one who 
may conduct himself unworthily. — 

Sect 9"' The Secretary of each State meeting shall register the 
names of the Members resident in each State, and transmit a 
Copy to the Secretary of the Society. 

Section 10*'' In order to Ibrm funds for the relief of unfortunate 
members, their widows and orphans, each Officer shall deliver to 
the Treasurer of the State-meeting one month's pay 



26 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Sect II No donations shall be rec'' but from citizens of the 
UNITED STATES.— 

Sect 12'" The funds of each meeting shall be loaned to the 
State, by permission of the Legislature, and the interest only, 
annually to be applied for the purposes of the SOCIETY : — and, 
if in process of time, difficulties in executing the intentions of the 
Society, the Legislatures of the several States shall be requested 
to make such equitable dispositions as may be most correspondent 
with the original design of the Institution 

Sect 13^'' The Subjects of his most Christian Majesty, Members 
of this Society, may hold meetings at their pleasure, and form 
regulations for their police, conformably to the objects of the In- 
stitution and to the spirit of their government 

Section i4"> The SOCIETY shall have an ORDER which shall 
be a BALD EAGLE of gold, bearing on its breast the emblems 
hereafter described, suspended by a deep blue Ribband edged 
with white descriptive of the Union of America and France — The 
principal figure, CINCINNATUS ; Three Senators presenting 
him v^ath a Sword and other military ensigns; — on a field, in the 
back ground, his wife standing at the door of their cottage, near it 
a Plough and other instruments of husbandry — Round the whole 
— OMNIA RELINQUIT SERVARE REMPUBLICAM — on 
the reverse. Sun rising — a city with open gates, and vessels en- 
tering the port. — Fame crowning Cincinnatus with a wreath 
inscribed — VIRTUTIS PREMIUM. Below: Hands joining 
supporting a heart — with the Motto — ESTO PERPETUA. 
Round the whole, 

SOCIETAS CINCINNATORUM INSTITUTA A. D. 

1783- . 
Sect 15^'' A silver medal representing the emblems to be given 
to each member of the SOCIETY, together with a DIPLOMA 
on parchment, whereon shall be impressed the figures of the Order 
and Medal, as above mentioned. — 

EXETER, Feb^' 3'>, 1784 

The Society met according to adjournment. 

Voted — That the Sentiments comprehended in a letter laid be- 
fore them are agreeable to the Minds of the Meeting and that a 
Committee be appointed to draught a letter consistent with said 
Sentiments and put it in the hands of y'' Sec'' who is directed to 
transmit Copies to each State Society as soon as may be — 

Voted — That the former Committee or the Major part of them 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 27 

be empowered to draught the letter and put it in the hands of y" 
Sec-' who is to forward Copies of the same according to the fore- 
going vote — 

Adjourned to this place July 4'" 1785 

Circular Letter from y'' Society in Consequence of the proposed 
alterations in the Institution — 

The Society of y'' Cincinnati of New Hampshire at their state 
Meeting held this day have read & considered the circular letter 
from y'' General Meeting, with the Plan proposed by them instead 
of that which was first adopted 

We viewed with grief and astonishment the uneasiness which 
the establishment of our Society gave to some of our Fellow-Citi- 
zens ; and were no less surprized to find the pen of Malice so 
successfully employed in construing actions that flowed from the 
purest motives into secret and dangerous attempst to subvert a 
Government which we had toiled and bled to rear up and defend. — 

Nothing could afford us more pleasure, than to quiet the minds 
and remove the fears of our fellow-citizens : but to yield to Argu- 
ments that have no force, to acknowledge dangers that cannot 
exist, to recede from a Plan founded on the most laudable Princi- 
ples therebv stamping y'' mark of suspicion on the most virtuous 
actions ; or to adopt a Conduct which might imply a concession 
that by our serving as Soldiers we have forfeited our right as Cit- 
izens, and are not entitled to those Privileges which our fellow 
subjects enjoy with out controul ; would be making a sacrifice 
which they have no right to expect. — 

The institution of Societies, establishing of funds and wearing 
the Badges of the respective Orders will readily be acknowledged 
a right claimed and exercized by the Citizens of this and every 
other free Country and if wearing the emblems of our Order estab- 
lishes a Rank of Nobility in America contrary to the Confedera- 
tion we can see no reason why the Badge worn by the free-masons 
does not as effectually do it. — If the officers before their separa- 
tion had agreed to have their Garments cut diff"erently from other 
Persons and that their Children should follow their Example, we 
believe few persons would serioush' pronounce this a creation of 
an Order of Nobility. But if Medals only can have the eftVict 
Congress have already enobled many of the american and even 
foreign Officers, by bestowing Medals upon them for brilliant serv- 
ices : If it should be said the difference lies in the descent, of one 
being limited and the other not ; our Answer is that if this 
proves anything it must prove that the descent of a Medal, enobles 



28 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

a descendant which had no such effect upon his Ancestor and 
is an Argument to feeble and absurd to deserve a serious refuta- 
tion — 

We are not tenacious of the Power of writing to each other as 
societies, though it might be difficult to assign a reason why every 
Town-meeting, convention committee of safety, societies of every 
kind, and even the individuals in the respective states should enjoy 
without molestation the Privilege of corresponding with each other 
upon any subject, and the Officers of the American Army alone 
deprived of it — 

It will not be denied that all societies even Companies of Mer- 
chants have repeatedlv established funds and disposed of them 
according to their pleasure without Alarming the People ; and 
surely the right of individuals to appropriate part of their Prop- 
erty to charitable uses has never before been called in question ; 
or such distribution thereof been deemed a crime — 

But if every Jealousy however founded is to be removed and 
the tongue of Envy silenced at all events would not this have been 
more effectually & more honorably by laying the ax to the root 
of the tree and abolishing the society at once than by parti- 
ally receding from a plan established in the sincerity of friend- 
ship and that rectitude of Mind which led us to encounter every 
danger and endure the severest toils to save a sinking Country, 
and emancipate her sons from the shackles of slavery? — 

When the arduous task and Heaven had crowned our endeav- 
ours with success a separation became necessary between Officers 
whose friendship commenced with y'' Contest increased with 
every danger thro' a severe and tedious War and was cemented 
by their BLOOD.— 

We rejoiced at the event which divided us while we lamented a 
separation from y'' Partners of our fatigues, whose patriotism, 
virtue, patience and fortitude had endeared them to us and bound 
us to them by the strongest ties of friendship — 

To perpetuate this harmony we instituted this society and con- 
sidered the emblems of the Order as the most endearing marks of 
that friendship which we wished might be held in grateful remem- 
brance by ourselves and cherished among our children to the 
latest Posterity, and the more effectually to witness our regard tor 
each other and for those who depended for support on our Brethren 
that bravely fell in defence of their Country ; we established 
funds to relieve the distresses of their widows and Orphans — 
having done this we returned to our families w^ho had patiently 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 29 

borne a long and painful absence ; many of them fallen from a 
state of Affluence to the most trying Circumstances ; all consider- 
ably reduced and some even in the extremes of distressing Pov- 
erty — The Continent being unable to fulfil its contracts, we had 
no means for relieving their wants. We could only present them 
with scars instead of cash and ruined Constitutions in lieu of y° 
spoils of War — 

This being the state of facts can it possibly be expected that 
we should tamel}' submit to give up into the hands of the respect- 
ive Legislatures the small funds which we established with the 
price of our blood to be disposed of as they shall think proper, 
without our having the least controul over it or voice in disposing 
of it, to become at our deaths a gift to the Legislatures ; or if the 
Society is kept up as in y*' plan proposed be enjoyed not by us 
or our decendants but by others that we know nothing of, and 
between whom and us, there never existed any ties of Blood or 
Friendship — 

If the Society cannot exist as originally instituted, we shall 
acquiesce in y'" abolishing it altogether : but as we became Mem- 
bers by signing Articles which we then and still suppose origi- 
nated in virtuous friendship, we cannot conceive ourselves bound 
by articles we never subscribed. — When any new system is rec- 
ommended we shall individually claim a right of judging for our- 
selves, the expediencv of becoming Members, but we never shall 
accede to any plan which permits any man or body of men to 
dispose of or even direct us in the disposition of our property. — 
With the greatest respect we are Gentlemen 

your most h'ble servants 
By order of y'" society — E. Sullivan Sec'' 

(Circular) — 

EXETER July 4^" 1785 

This day the Society of the Cincinnati met according to Order, 
the Presid & Sec- being absent the Vice Pres^ presided and Maj 
Fogg was appointed Sec-^ pro tempore when the Society proceeded 
to the election of Officers for y' ensuing year, the Ballots being 
taken the following Gentlemen w^ere declared elected 
The Hon Gen' Sullivan . President 



The Hon Gen' Cillev 
Col" M^Clary 
Cap^ Cass . 
Maj Fogg . 



Vice Pres* 
Treasurer 
Vice Treasurer 
Sec>' 



30 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Voted, That the Presid' be desired to direct the former Sec' 
to deliver unto the present Sec" or his Order the Records & pro- 
ceedings of the Society — 

Voted That the next Annual meeting be at Nottingham, Square 
and that the proceedings of this day be published in the New 
Hamp Gazette. — 

NOTTINGHAM, July the 4'" 1786 — 

The Society of Cincinnati met and chose the following Gentle- 
men Officers for the ensuing year (viz) 

His Excellency Gen' Sullivan . . President 

Hon'^'^' Gen' Cilley .... Vice Pres' 

Col" M'Clary Treasurer 

Major Cass Ass* Treasurer 

Major Fogg Secretary 

Voted, That the Treasurer be authorized to draw the Interest 
now due on the publick Securities in the Fund of the Society and 
exchange the Same for State Notes on the best terms in his power 
and as soon as may be convenient. — 

Voted, That all Members of this Society, who have not paid 
their respective Quotas to the Treasurer, pay the same before the 
first day of Jan-'' Next or be excluded from the privileges of the 
Society and that the Treasurer notify them Accordingly 

Voted — That Maj. Fogg Maj Cass & Doc' Parker be a Com- 
mittee to form some further Rules for the better Regulating the 
Society and make report the next Annual Meeting. — 

Voted That Maj. Fogg, Maj Cass & L' Gookin be a Commit- 
tee to take into Consideration a Letter from the Ohio Company to 
this Society & report at the next Meeting what measures are 
proper to be taken, and that the Sec^ in the mean time acquaint 
Mr. Winthrop Sargent with our proceedings thereon 

Voted That the Next Annual Meeting be held at M' Benj' 
Lamson's at Exeter. 

EXETER April 16'" 1787 — 

At a Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of N Hamp by 
special Order of the President. 

Voted That the following Sentiments of the Society be trans- 
mitted to the general Meeting to be held at Philadelphia in May 
next, with a Copy of the Circular Letter written from the Society 
by Order of a Meeting held at Exeter on the 3'' day of Feb'' 1785 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 3I 

i*^ This Society object to the plan proposed by the last general 
Meeting to submit the Appropriation of funds to the Legislatures 
of the respective States or to leave the Existence of the Society to 
the Regulation of Charters which may never be obtained and on 
tailure of which the Society must cease to exist — 

2diy That the Abolition of hereditary succession adopted by said 
Gen' Meeting is so repugnant to the design of the Institution and 
so destructive to the principles on which it was originally founded 
}•' it ought not to be agreed to — 

3'"-'' A Liberty of Correspondence being the Right of Freemen 
of every denomination in America this Society can never consent to 
relinquish that Right and thereby degrade themselves below every 
other Class of Citizens 

The Societv propose that the Descendants of New elected Mem- 
bers be intitled to the privilege of admittance upon the death of 
an Ancestor in the same manner as the descendants of Ancient 
Members — And that upon the death of any new elected or 
Ancient Member it shall be the business of the Society in the 
State where such deceased Member dwelt to nominate such of his 
sons (if any he have) as will be most likely to fill the place of his 
Ancestor with Credit and to notify him of his Appointment upon 
which he shall upon appearing and subscribing to the Institution 
be considered as a Member and entitled to all the privileges of 
other Members — 

Voted That the proceedings of this Meeting with the Copy of 
the aforesaid circular Letter be transmitted by the Sec^ to the next 
General Meeting and that the Hon" Nicholas Gilman Esq'' be and 
herebv is appointed a Delegate for this Society to the next Gen' 
Meeting with full power to agree to such Alterations in the Insti- 
tution of the Gen' Society as he may think proper — 

EXETER July 4"^ 1787 — 

At a Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati held this day, the 
following Gentlemen were elected Officers for the ensuing Year. 
His Excellencv Gen' Sullivan . . President 

Hon Gen' Cilley .... V Pres' 

Maj. Fogg Sec'' 

Cor M'Clary Treasurer 

Maj Cass ." Ass' Treasurer 

Voted That the Secretary summon L' Jon" Perkins to appear at 
the next general Meetincr to answer for Conduct unbecoming the 



32 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Character of a Gentleman and Member of this society and that he 
notify him that in Case of his Non Attendance he will be excluded 
the society. 

Voted That the Operation of the Vote passed at the last annual 
Meeting respecting the delinquents in paying their several Qiiotas 
be suspended till the next Annual Meeting. — 

Voted That the next Annual Meeting be held at M'' B. Lamsons 
at Exeter — 

EXETER July 4^'^ 1788 — 

The Society of the Cincinnati met, the Pres' and Vice Pres*^ 
being Absent Major Mills was appointed Pres* pro Tempore : 
Then proceeded to the Choice of Officers for the ensuing year — 

The Ballots being called for the following Gentlemen were 
elected. 

His Excellency Gen' Sullivan . Pres^ 



Vice Pres* 

Sec-^- 

Treasurer 

Vice Treasurer — 



Gen' Cilley 
Major Fogg 
CoP M M'^Clary 
Major Cass 

Voted that as L' Jonathan Perkins did not appear at this 
Annual Meeting pursuant to a Vote of a former Meeting, he be 
excluded the Society — 

Voted — that the Vote passed July the 4"^ 1786 respecting the 
delinquency of Members in paying their respective Quotas be fur- 
ther suspended till the next Meeting of this Society 

Voted That a Letter be transmitted from this Society to the 
Pres^ Gen' signed by the Pres* and Countersigned by the Sec'' 
congratulating him and the Gen' Societ}^ on the Ratification of the 
federal Constitution in this State manifesting our hearty approba- 
tion thereof — 

Voted that the Treasurer dispose of so much of the Interest of 
the Society's funds as shall be sufficient to pay all demands 
against the Society 

Lastly voted To adjourn to Col" Adams's at Durham and meet 
the 4*'' of July next — 

DURHAM July the 4^" 1789 — 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati the following 
Officers were chosen for the present year (viz) 
His Excell' John Sullivan . . Pres' 

Maj Gen' Cilley .... Vice Pres' 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 



Major Jere Fogg .... Sec' 
Col" M'Clary .... Treasurer 
Major Cass ..... Ass' Treas*" 
Voted that a Committee consisting of Two in Addition to the 
Treasurer be appointed to examine into the state funds of this 
society and dispose of the same in such a wav as they may judge 
will best serve the interest of the society and that the Pres' and 
vice pres' be the Committee and this Meeting stand adjourned to 
the first monday of Feb-'' Next at the house of Benj" Lamson in 
Exeter — 

Voted that the next annual Meeting be holden at Col" Adams's 
in Durham on Monday y'' 5**^ day of July next. 

EXETER Feby i 1790 — 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati holden this day 
by adjournment — 

Voted that the Hon"''''" Nicholas Gilman Esq"" be appointed a 
Delegate to attend the next general Meeting of the Society to 
represent the Society of this State — 

DURHAM July the 5'" 1790 

At a meeting of the Society of N H holden this day the follow^- 
ing Gentlemen were elected Officers for the present year 
His Ex' John Sullivan . . . Pres* 



Hon''"'" Joseph Cilley 
Jere Fogg . 
Michael M'Clary 
Jon" Cass 



V Pres' 
Secy 

Treasurer 
Ass' Treasurer 



Voted that Gen' Sullivan Col" Adams & Maj Fogg be a Com- 
mittee to answer Sec'' Knoxes Letter to this Society of the 4''' of 
June last and make such enquiries of him concerning the Con- 
tents thereof as they may think proper and obtain his Answer to 
be laid before this Society at their Meeting on Adjournment 

Voted that the next Annual Meeting be held at Col" Adams's at 
Durham — 

Voted that this Meeting be adjourned to Nov'' 19'" next and be 
holden at Benj-' Lamsons at Exeter — 



34 



STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



vice Pres* 
Sec' 
Treas'" 
Assistant Treas'' 



DURHAM July the 4'" 1791 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of the State of 
New Hampshire holden this day the following Officers were re- 
elected for the present year (viz) 

The Hon''' John Sullivan . . President — 

Hon''''' Joseph Cilley 
Jeremiah Fogg 
Michael McClary 
Jonathan Cass 

The Secretary being Absent Michael M'^^Clary was chosen Pro 
temp — 

Voted that the Sec'' P T. be directed to write to the Members of 
the Society who are Absent this Meeting and request them to 
attend at the Adjournment — 

Voted That the Anniversary of Independence be celebrated in 
1792 by this Society at the house of Samuel Adams in Durham 

Voted To Adjourn this Meeting to the second Tuesday of Aug* 
next then to meet at the house of the widow Folsom in Exeter at 
10 °C. A M. Adjourned accordingly 

Michl M^Clary Sec^ P. T. 

DURHAM July the 4'" 1792 

Agreeably to the Institution, the Society of the Cincinnati of 
New Hampshire convened — The President being absent the Vice 
President presided — The Ballots being called lor the tbllowing 
-Officers were reelected for the ensuing year 

Hon" Jn" Sullivan . . . President 



Hon" Joseph Cilley 
Mich' M'Clary .' 
Jon'* Cass 
Jere Fogg . 
There being no matters of 
eration, After reading the Inst 



Vice Pres* 
Treasurer 
Assist d° 
Sec^ 
Consequence to take under Consid- 
itution the Society voted to celebrate 
the Anniversary of Independence for the year 1793 at the house 
of M'' Benj" Butler in Deerfield — 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 



35 



DEERFIELD July 4^" 1793 — 

At a Meeting of the Society of Cincinnati held here this day 
Present 

Col" Joseph Cilley . . . Vice President 

Cap' Mich' M'^Clary . . . Treasurer 

L' Jon'' Cilley 
L' Adna Penn3'man 
M^ James H M^Clary — 
The Secretary being Absent Cap' Mich' M^'Clary was chosen 
Sec^ P. Temp: — Officers chosen as last Year — Adjourned to 
Meet at y"' House of M"" Benj" Butler in Deerfield on the 4"' day 
of July 1794 — 

Michl M'^Clary Sec Pro. Temp — 

DEERFIELD July the 4'" 1794 — 

The Society met agreeably to Appointment and chose by Ballot 
the following Officers for the current Year (viz) — 
Hon''"' Joseph Cilley . . . Pres' 

Joseph Mills 
Jere Fogg 



M' M^Clary 
Jon--^ Cilley 



Vice Pres' 

Sec^ 

Treasurer 

Assist' 



Voted to hold the next annual Meeting at Col" Henry Butlers at 
Nottingham — 

NOTTINGHAM July the 4'" 1795 

At a Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of N Hamp 
Holden this day Present 

Col" Joseph Cilley 
Cap' Mich' M'Clary 
Cap' Jere Fogg 
L' Jon" Cilley 
M--J H M^ Clary 
jst Voted That the Officers for the ensuing year be the same as 
the last Year — 

2'' That the Next Annual meeting be holden at the House of 
Col" Henr}^ Butler in Nottingham and that the Secretary cause 
the time and place of said Meeting to be published in the New 
Hampshire Gazette 



^6 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

At a Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati holden at Not- 
tingham July the 4*'' 1796 — Present 

Col" Joseph Cillev .... President 
L' Joseph Mills " . . .V Pres^ 

Cap* Mich' M'^Clary . . Treasurer 

L' Jon" Cilley .... Ass Treasurer 

M-" James H M^Clary 
L^ Jeremiah Pritchard 
L* Sam' Adams 
U Dan' Gookin 
U Rob' Wilkins 
Motion was Made that a Committee be appointed to nominate 
suitable persons for Officers — L' Adams J H M'Clary L' Pritch- 
ard were chosen for that purpose who reported as follows — 
Col° Joseph Cillev . . . Pres' 

L^ Joseph Mills ■. . . . V Presid' 

Cap' Jere Fogg .... Sec^ 
Cap' Mich' M^Clar\- . . Treasurer 

L' Jona : Cilley .... x\ss' Treas'' 
The Sec""'' being Absent Cap' M'Clary was chosen Sec-^ Pro 
Tempore — 

The Society then proceeded to ballot for Officers agreeabl}- to 
the Constitution and they were chosen as reported — The Society 
proceeded as follows 

jsi Voted to chuse a Committee to settle with the Treasurer and 
report at the next Meeting 

2'' Chose Col. Cilley, L' Mills & L' Gookin a Committee for 
the aforesaid purpose 

3*^ Voted that the Treasurer be Authorized to fund the Property 
now belonging to the Society in the funds of the United States in 
the Name of the Treasurer of the Society, for and in behalf and 
for the Use of the Society — and provided said Property cannot 
be funded as aforesaid, then the same to be disposed of for the 
highest Value and appropriated to the Use of purchasing funded 
Stock and such as Interest accrues thereon and to be funded in 
the Continental Loan Ollice in N Hampshire — 

^tiiiy Voted that the expence of this and all future Meetings be 
defrayed out of the Interest arising on the Funds belonging to the 
Society — 

5"' Voted That this Meeting be adjourned to the fourth day of 
July next, then to Meet at Col" Henry Butlers in Nottingham — 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 



37 



L' Wilkins and the Widow Emerson made Application to the 
Society for a Grant to be made them by the Society, the Consid- 
eration of Which was Postponed till the next Meeting 

M M'^Ci.ARY Sec" P. Temp. 

NOTTINGHAM July y^^ 4"' 1797 

At a Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of N H held this 
day Present 

Col" Joseph Cilley 
L^ Joseph Mills 
Cap^ Jere Fogg 
Cap^ Mic" M^Clarv 
L* Jon^' Cilley 
Proceed to the Choice of Officers for the ensuing Year which 
are as follows — 

Col" Jos. Cilley .... President 



L' Jos Mills 
Cap' Jere Fogg . 
Cap' Mich' M'Clary 
U Jon-' Cilley 



V Pres' 
Sec-^' 

Treasurer 
Ass' d" — 



1 Voted that M'' John Sullivan be admitted into this Society 
agreeably to its institution as a Member thereof being the eldest 
Son of the Hon''''' Gen' Sullivan dec** 

2 Voted — That the Committee chosen at the last Annual Meet- 
ing to settle the Treasurers Ace'* be continued and make further 
report at the Next Annual Meeting 

3 Voted that the Next Annual Meeting be holden at Col" 
II Butlers in Nottingham 

NOTTINGHAM July 4'" 1798 — 

At a Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati holden this day 
Present 

Col" Jos Cillev L' Jos Mills 

Cap' Mich' M^Clary Cap' Jere Fogg 

L' Sam' Adams M^ H M'Clary 

M' Sullivan 
The Ballots being taken tor Officers for y'' ensuing Year the 
followingc Gentlemen were chosen 



Col" Cillev 
L' J Mills^ 



President 
V Pres' 



38 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Cap* Mich^ M-^Clary . . . Treas^' 

Cap^ Jere Fogg .... Sec-^ 

L Jon" Cilley .... Ass' Treasurer 

1 Voted that Eight dollars advanced by the Members of the 
Society in y*^ Year 1796 as a Gratuity to L' Wilkins be refunded 
to them by the Treasurer of y*' Society 

2 Voted That the Committee on the Treasurers Ace'-' be con- 
tinued and Make further Report at the Next Annual Meeting — 

3 Voted That the Next Annual Meeting be holden at Col" But- 
lers in Nottingham 

NOTTINGHAM July the 4'" 1799 — 

At a Meeting of the Society of y'' Cincinnati holden this day 
Present 

Col° Jos Cilley L' J Mills 

Cap' Michael McClary Cap' Jere Fogg 

Proceeded to elect Officers for the ensuing Year 
The Hon° Joseph Cilley declining to serve as President of y 
society any longer 

L' Joseph Mills was chosen . . President 



Vice President 
Sec^ 

Treasurer 
Ass' Treas"" 



L' Jon" Cilley 
Cap' Jere Fogg 
Cap' M' M'^Clarv 
M- H M'^Clary ^ 

I Voted that the Wife of Neal McGaffee have a grant of Ten 
dollars out of this Society for which she is to give her rec' and 
that the treasurer pay the same accordingly — she appearing a 
Proper object of Charity agreeably to y*^ institution 

2*^ Voted that the Treasurer be directed and he is hereby di- 
rected to loan all the interest Money on hand and now due to the 
society for which he is to be Answerable 

3 Voted That the Next Annual Meeting be held at Greenleafs 
in Portsmouth — 

PORTSMOUTH, July the 4'" 1800. 

At a meeting of the society of the Cincinnati holden this day 
Present 

Lieut Joseph Mills L'Jon" Cilley 

Cap' J Fogg Cap' Mich' M^Clary 

L' Sam' Adams L' Daniel Gookin 

/ 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 



39 



Proceeded to the Choice of Officers for y'' current year the Bal- 
lots being taken 

U Joseph Mills was elected . . President 

L'Jon' Cilley .... Vice Pres^ 

Cap J Fogg Sec^ 

Cap' Mich M^Clarv . . . Treasurer 

J H M^Clary ". . . . Ass' Treas"- 

M'" Bradbury Cilley eldest son of Col" Joseph Cilley dec*^ 
appeared and took his seat as a Member 

Voted that L' Perkins L' Boynton and the Wife of Cap' Eb'' 
Sullivan have and Receive from the Treasury of this Society 
Twelve dollars each — and that the wife of Neal McGaffee 
receive Five dollars and that the treasurer pay the same accord- 
ingly — 

Voted that the Treasurer be directed to procure Eight Golden 
Medals to be distributed to the Members present, One to each 
with the Emblems as directed in the institution 



PORTSMOUTH, July the 4"' 1801 — 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati holden this day 
Present 

L' Mills L' Jon'' Cilley 

Cap' M M'Clarey Cap J. Fogg 

L' Dan' Gookin and M'" Bradbury Cilley — 

Cap' Amos Cogswell a Member of the Society of the Cincinnati 
in Massachusetts attended and being now a Citizen of this State 
took his Seat as a Member of this Society agreeably to the institu- 
tion — 

The Society then proceeded to the choice of Officers for the 
ensuing year — The ballots being taken 

L' Joseph Mills was elected . . President 

L' Jon'' Cilley .... Vice Pres' 
Cap J. Fogg. .... Sec'' 

Cap' Mich' M^Clary . . Treas'" 

James H M'Clary .... Ass' Treas'" 
Voted that M'^ Sullivan widow of the late Cap' Eb"" Sullivan 
and the Wife of Neal M'^Gaffe have out of the treasury of the 
Society Eight dollars each 

Voted that the ne.xt Annual Meeting be holden at Portsm" at the 
house of M' J Greenleaf on Monday the 5"' day of July — 



40 



STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



PORTSMOUTH July 5^" 1802 



At the annual meeting of the Society of y^' Cincinnati of N 
Hampshire holden this day Present 

Major Joseph Mills . . • Pres' 

Maj'' Jere Fogg .... Sec"" 
Gen' Mich' M^Clary . • Treasurer 

Maj. H M' Clary .... Ass^ Treasurer 
Col" Sam' Adams 
Col" Bradbury Cilley 
The society proceeded to ballot for the Officers of the ensuing 
year when 

Major Joseph Mills was elected . President 
Col" Sam' Adams . . • • V Pres' 

Major Jere Fogg .... Sec-'' 
Gen' Mich' M^Clary . . • Treasurer 

Maj J. H. M'Clary . . . Ass' Treasurer 

Voted that the Widow of the late Cap* Ebenezer Sullivan and 
the Wife of L' Neal McGaftee have and receive out of the Treas- 
ury Five dollars each 

Voted that the next Annual Meeting be holden at Portsm° on the 
4*" day of July Next 

N B. Balance of Interest due the Society on this 5"' day of 
July — $155, .89 

PORTSMOUTH July the 4*" 1803 — 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of New Hamp- 
shire holden this day Present 

Major Joseph Mills Pres' Gen' Michael M'Clary Treas"" 

J H M'Clarv Ass' Treas' Major Jere Fogg Sec'" 

Col° Amos Cogswell Col° Bradbury Cilley 

Cap' Dan' Gookin 
The Society proceeded to the Choice of Oflicers for the ensuing 
Year — The Ballots being taken and 

Major Joseph Mills was reelected . Pres' 
Col" Amos Cogswell . . • Vice Pres' 

General Michael McClary reelected . Treasurer 
Maj' J Harvey M'Clary . . . Ass' Treasurer 

Major Jere Fogg .... Sec^ 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 



41 



Voted that the Widow of Cap' Eb'' Sullivan the Wife of L* Neal 
McGaffee — L* Jon" Perkins and L' Joseph Boynton have and 
receive out of the treasury each Eight Dollars 

V^oted to hold the Next Annual Meeting at Portsm" 
Balance due the Society interest from the Treasurer July 4"' 
1803 — $177,89 

PORTSMOUTH July the 4''> 1804 — 



V. President 

Sec>- 

Treasurer 
Ass* Treasurer 



President 
Vice President 
Seo^ 

Treasurer 
Ass' Treasurer 



At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of New Hamp- 
shire holden this day Present 
Col" Amos Cogswell 
Major Jere Fogg . 
Gen' Michael M^Clary . 
Major J Harvey M-^Clary 
Cap' Daniel Gookin — 
Proceeded to ballot for Officers and 
Major Joseph Mills was reelected 
Col" Amos Cogswell 
Major Jere Fogg . 
Gen' Michael M'Clary . 
Maj J. Harvey M'Clarey 
After examining the Treasurers Ace'* and approving of the 
same they found due to the Society in interest arising from the 
Fund One Hundred and Eighty one dollars and Seventy Nine 
Cents — 

No business of importance presenting the Society voted to hold 
their next Annual Meeting at Portsmouth 

PORTSMOUTH July 4'" 1805 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of the State of 
New Hampshire holden this day Present 

Major Joseph Mills 

Col" Amos Cogswell 

Major Jere Fogg . 

Gen' Michael M'Clarey 

Major James H. M^Clary 

Col" Bradbury Cilley 

Capt Daniel Gookin — 
The Society proceeded to ballot for Officers for the ensuing Year 
and the following Officers were reelected (viz) 



President 
Vice President 
Sec^' 

Treasurer 
Ass' Treasurer 



42 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



Major Joseph Mills . 
Col" Amos Cogswell 
Major Jere Fosjg 
Gen' Mich' M^Clary . 
Major Harvey M' Clary 



President 
Vice President 
Secretary 
Treasurer 
Ass' Treasurer 



The Society took into consideration a letter from the Society of 
New York concerning duelling and voted to let it lie for considera- 
tion — 

On examining the Treasurer's Acc'^ and approving of the same, 
found a balance due to the Society of Two hundred and Twenty 
dollars and Eighteen Cents — 

$220, iS'^ — 

Voted that the Widow of Our deceased friend L* Samuel 
Adams have and receive out of the Treasury of this Society 
Twenty dollars and the Treasurer is directed to pay the same 
Accordingly — 

Col" Seth Walker made Application to become an Honorary 
Member of the society who stands a Candidate for the same to the 
4"^ July Next 

Col" Nathaniel White having previously made Application also 
to become a Member of said society was, after due consideration 
Admitted on his paying into the Treasury Forty dollars, and to 
be entitled to all the privileges of the Society — 

Voted that the Next Annual Meeting be at Portsmouth 

PORTSMOUTH July y^ 4"' 1806 

At a Meeting of the Cincinnati of New hampshire holden this 

day. Present — 

Major Joseph Mills . . . President 

Col" Amos Cogswell . . . Vice President 

Major Jere Fogg .... Secretary 
Gen' Michael M'Clary . . . Treasurer 

Col" Bradbury Cilley 
Capt. Daniel Gookin 
Col" Nath' White 

Capt. Thomas Turner visiting Member — 
Proceeded to the Choice of Officers and the Ballots being given 

in appeared that 

Major Joseph Mills Was reelected President 
Col° Amos Cogswell . . . Vice Pres' 



RECORDS OP' THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 43 

Major Jere Fogg .... Secretary 
General Mich' M'^Clary . . Treasurer 

Col" Harvey M'Clary . . . Assist*^ Treasurer 

On examining the Treasurer's Accounts it Appears to the 
Society that there remains in the Treasurer's hands Two hundred 
and Fifty Nine dollars And forty three Cents which Settlement 
was approved. 
$259,43 Cents 

PORTSMOUTH July 4'" 1807 — 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of New Hamp- 
shire holden this day present — 

Col" Amos Cogswell 
Major Jeremiah Fogg 
Gen' Mich' M^Clary 
Col" Bradbury Cilley 
Proceeded to Ballot for Officers and 

Major Joseph Mills was chosen . President 



Vice President 
Secretary 
Treasurer 
Assistant Treasurer- 



Col" Amos Cogswell 
Major Jeremiah Fogg . 
General Mich' M'Clary 
Col" James H. M'^Clary 
On Examining The Treasurers Accounts it appears that the 
sum now due to the society in the hands of the Treasurer amounts 
to Two hundred and Seventy-Nine Dollars and sixty Cents which 
was Approved and Accepted 
$279,60 — 

Voted to meet at Portsmouth on the fourth of July next at Ten 
o'clock 

Adjourned — 

PORTSMOUTH July 4''> 1808 — 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of New Hamp- 
shire Present 

General Mich' M'Clary 
Col" James H. M^Clary 
Cap^ Daniel Gookin 
Cap' John Sullivan (son of the Late Cap' Eben'' Sullivan 
deceased who was a Member) made Application to become a 
member in room of his Father agreeable to the Institution and was 
Admited — 



44 



STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



vice President 
Secretary 
Treasurer 
x\ssistant Treasurer 



Proceeded to ballot for Officers and 

Major Josep Mills was chosen . President 

Col" Amos Cogswell 

Cap^ Daniel Gookin 

Gen' Mich' M^Clary . 

Col" James H. M^Clary 
Proceeded to examine the Treasurers Accounts and find due to 
the society in the Treasurers hands for the interest on the stock of 
the society Three hundred Eighteen Dollars Thirty five Cents, — 
Interest being accounted for to July i*** 1808 which account was 
approved and accepted 

$318=35 = 



Voted to meet at Epsom on the 4^'' of July Next 
Adjourned — 

At a Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of the State of 
New Hampshire held at Epsom July 4"' 1809 — Present — 
General Michael M'^Clary 
Col" Bradbury Cilley — 
Col" James H. M-^^Clary 

Cap^ John Sullivan (son of the General) and 
Cap* Daniel Gookin — 
Agreeable to the Institution proceeded to the Choice of officers 
and made choice of 

Col" Amos Cogswell for . . President 

Col" Bradbury Cilley . . Vice President 

Cap* Daniel Gookin . . . Secretary 

General M. M'Clary . . . Treasurer 

Col" James H M'Clary . . Assistant Treasurer 

Proceeded to examine the Accounts of the Treasurer and find 
due to the Society in the hands of the Treasurer Three hundred 
and fifty five Dollars ten Cents, Interest being accounted for to 
July I'* 1809 — which account was received and accepted — 

355>iQ 

Voted that the Treasurer pay to Bradbury Cilley Esq*" sixty Dol- 
lars to James H. McClary Esq"" sixty Dollars to Cap* John Sulli- 
van (son of the Late General) sixty Dollars to Daniel Gookin Esq' 
sixty Dollars and to Michael M'Clary Esq"" sixty Dollars being 
part of the Interest of the funds now in his hands 

Adjourned to July 4th 18 10 then to Meet at Epsom — 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 



45 



EPSOM July 4'" 1810 — 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati of New Hamp- 
shire holden this day Present 
Col" Bradbury Cilley 
General Mich' McClary 
Proceeded to ballot for Officers for the ensuinij Year and 
Col° Amos Cogswell was Chosen President 
Col" Bradbury Ciller" . . . Vice President 



Secretary 
Treasurer 
assistant Treasurer 
Sed>' P. T.— 



Cap' Daniel Gookin 

Gen' Michael M'Clar\ 

Col" James H. M'Clary 

General Mich' McClary 
Balance of Interest in the Treasurers hands due the Society 
Eighty-tive Dollars Ten Cents — 

Adjourned to meet at Portsmouth on the 4 of July next 

PORTSMOUTH July 4 1811 — 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinate of New Hamp- 
shire held this dav agreeably to the Institution — Present — 
Col" Bradbury Cilley 
General Mic' M'Clary 
Cap' Daniel Gookin 
Cap' John Sullivan and 
Cap' John Sullivan J'" 
Proceeded to ballot for Officers for the ensuing Year and the 
following Gentelmen were elected 

Col" Amos Cogswell . . . President 



Col" Bradbury Cilley 
Cap' Daniel Gookin 
Gen' Mic' M'Clary 
Cap' John Sullivan J'' 



Vice President 
Secr'-^' 
Treasurer 
Assistant Treas*" 



Examined the Treasurers account and find a balance in his 
hands, for Interest on the Fund due the Society of One hundred 
Thirty-five Dollars and Ten Cents, Interest being by him accounted 
for to July i" 1811 — 

Voted that the Treasurer pay to Elizabeth M'^Clary widow of 
James H. M'Clary Twenty-five Dollars Taking her Receipt for the 
same being, a donation given her by the Society — 

Adjourned to meet at Portsmouth on July 4"^ 1812 — 

Daniel Gookin Sec'^ 



Vice President 
Sed-^ 

Treasurer and 
Assistant Trea"" 



46 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

PORTSMOUTH July 4'" 1812 — 

At a Meeting of the Society of the Cincinate held this day 
Present — 

Col" Bradbury Cilley . . Vice President 

Daniel Gookin . . . Sec'^' 

Gen' Mic' M^ Clary . . Treasurer 

Cap' John Sullivan J"" . . Assistant Treas'" and 

Cap' John Sullivan 
Proceeded to ballot for Officers and 

Col*^ Amos Cogswell was chosen . President 
Col" Bradbury Cilley . 
Cap' Daniel Gookin 
Gen' Mich' M'Clary 
Cap' John Sullivan J"" . 
Examined the Treasurers Accounts and find in his hands a bal- 
ance for interest, on the fund, of One hundred Thirty-Nine Dol- 
lars seventy-three Cents, Interest accounted for by him to July i"' 
1812— ■ 

Voted that a Donation of Twenty Dollars be paid by the 
Treasurer to Elizabeth Adams, widow of the late Colonel Samuel 
Adams — 

Adjourned to meet at Portsmouth on the 4 of July 1813 — 

PORTSMOUTH July 5'" 1813 — 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati held this day 

Present 

Mic' M-^Clary 
Daniel Gookin 

Proceeded to Ballot for Officers and 

Amos Cogswell was Chosen . . President 

Bradbury Cilley .... Vice President 
Daniel Gookin .... Secretary 

Michael M'Clary .... Treasurer 
John Sullivan J"" . . . . Assistant Treasurer 

Examined the Treasurers Accounts and tind in his hands a Bal- 
ance due the Society for Interest on the funds, of One hundred 
forty-seven Dollars fortv-One Cents Interest accounted for to July 
I^'i8i3 — 

Voted that the Treasurer pay to Elizabeth M'Clary Widow of 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 47 

James H. McClary Twenty Dollars as a donation from the 
Society — 

Adjourned to meet at Epsom on July 4''' 1814 — 
The Hon''''' Nicholas Oilman having Died at Philadelphia on 
his return from Washington where he had been Attending his 
duty as a Senator in Congress from New Hampshire — Ordered 
that the members of the Society of the Cincinnati of N. Hamp- 
shire be requested to ware Black crape on the left Arm for 
Thirty days as a badge of respect and esteem they have for his 
memory 

May" 17'" 1814 

EPSOM July 4»'> 1814 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinati held this day 
Present — 

Mich' M-^^Clary 
Daniel Gookin 
Proceeded to Ballot for officers and 

Amos Cogswell was chosen . . President 

Bradbury Cilley 
Daniel Gookin 
Michael M'Clary . 
John Sullivan J'" 
Examined the Treasurers Accounts and tind in his hands One 
hundred Seventy-seven Dollars Eighty-four Cents money by him 
received for Interest on the funds belonging to the Society he 
having accounted for Interest to July i*"' 1814 

Adjourned to Meet at Portsmouth on the 4 of July 18 15 

Daniel Gookin Sec*'' 

PORTSMOUTH July 4''> 1815 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnate 
Present — 

Michiel M'Clary 
Daniel Gookin 

John Sullivan J"" (son of Ebenezer) 
Joseph Mills — 
Joseph Mills son of the late Joseph Mills Esq' of Deerfield 
deceased was admitted a member in Room of his father agreeable 
to the Institution, he having signed the same — 



Vice President 

Sec^y 

Treasurer 
Ass' Treasurer 



48 



STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



Balloted for Officers and 

Amos Cogswell was chosen 

Bradbury Cilley 

Daniel Gookin 

Michaiel M^Clary . 

John Sullivan J"" 
Examined the Treasurers Accounts and there are in his hands 
Interest on the funds due the Society Two hundred Twenty-three 
Dollars Eighty-four Cents Interest Accounted for to July first One 
thousand Eicrht hundred fifteen 



President 
Vice President 
Secretary 
Treasurer 
Ass* Treasurer 



$223=84= 



Voted that the Treasurer pay to the Widow of the late Cap*^ 
Eben"" Sullivan Fifteen Dollars and to the Widow of the late 
James H. M' Clary Fifteen Dollars as a donation from the 
Society — 

Voted that the Society meet at Portsmouth on the 4 of July 1816 

Daniel Gookin Sect' 



PORTSMOUTH July 4"' 1816 — 

At a meeting of the Society of Cincinate held this day 
Present — 

Bradbury Cilley 

Dan' Gookin 

Michaiel M'Clary 

John Sullivan 

Joseph Mills 
Balloted for the choice of Officers And 

Amos Cogswell was elected 

Bradbury Cilley 

Daniel Gookin 

Michaiel M'Clary . 

John Sullivan J"^ 



President 
Vice President 

Sect-'' 

Treasurer 
Ass' Treasurer 



Examined the Treasurers Account, and there are in his hands 
Interest on the fund Two hundred Thirty-four Dollars Ninty seven 
Cents he having Accounted for the Interest on the fund to July 
first one thousand Eight hundred and sixteen 

$234^^97 

Voted that the Treasurer pay to the Widow of the late General 
John Sullivan Twenty Dollars taking her receipt for the same 



RECORDS OF THK ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 



49 



Voted that the Treasurer pay to Anna Huntoon Ten Dollars 
taking her receipt for same 

Voted that the Society meet at Portsmouth on the 4 of July 
^*^i7 — Daniel Gookin Sect-" 

PORTSMOUTH July 4^" 1817 

At the Annual Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnate of New 
Hampshire holden this day — 
Present 

Daniel Gookin 
John Sullivan J'' 
John Sullivan and 
Joseph Mills, 
Mich' M'Clary being prevented by Sickness from Attending 
his son John M'Clary Attended with the Treasurers Account 
Proceeded to Ballot for Officers 

Amos Cogswell was chosen . . President 

Bradbury Cilley 
Daniel Gookin 
Mich' M^Clary 
John Sullivan J'' 
Examined the Treasurers Accounts and there Are in his hands 
received for Interest on the funds Two hundred Seventeen Dollars 
Forty-One Cents he having Accounted for interest to July i"^ 1817 — 
Doll 217, ,41 
Voted that the Society meet at Portsmouth on July 4 1818 

Daniel Gookin Sect'' 



Vice President 

Sect-" 

Treasurer 

Assistant Treasurer 



PORTSMOUTH July 4^" 1818 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnate this day 
Present 

Daniel Gookin 
Mich' M-^Clary 

Adams son of Sam' Adams 
Proceeded to the Choice of Officers 
Amos Cogswell was Elected 
Bradbury Cilley . 
Daniel Gookin 
Mich' M'Clary . 
John Sullivan J"" . 
4 



President 

V'^ice President 

Sect^ 

Treasurer 

Assistant Treasurer 



50 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Examined the Treasurers Account and there is in his .hands, 
Interest on the fund. Two-hundred forty-six Dollars, One Cent 
Interest by him Accounted for to July i""^ i8j8 

$246=01 = 

Voted that the Treasurer pay to the widow of Ebenezer Sulli- 
van Ten Dollars, and to the Children of John Sullivan J"" fifteen 
Dollars, And to the widows of Harvey M'Clary Ten Dollars, and 
to Jonathan Perkins Ten Dollars 

Voted to meet at Daniel Coffins in Eping on the 4"' of July 

1819 — 

EPPING Monday July 5'" 1819 — 

At a meeting of the Society of the Cincinnate this day 
Present 

Mich' M^Clary 
Daniel Gookin 
Officers Chosen 

Amos Cogswell .... President 
Bradbury Cilley .... Vice President 
Daniel Gookin .... Secretary 
Mich' M'Clary .... Treasurer 
On Examining the Treasurers Account, there are in' his hands, 
for interest on the funds. Two hundred forty-three Dollars Thirty- 
One Cents, interest accounted for by him to July first 1819 

$243=31 = 

Voted that the Treasurer pay to the Children of John Sullivan 
J'' fifteen Dollars — 

Voted that the Treasurer pay to the Widow^ Elizabeth M'Clary 
Ten Dollars 

Voted That the Meeting of the Society on the 4 day of July 

1820 be at Notingham— Daniel Gookin Sec-^ 

NOTINGHAM July 4"' 1820 — 

Agreeable to the Institution the Society of the Cincinnati met 
this day 
Present — 

Bradbury Cilley 

Mich' M'Clary 

Joseph Mills 

Daniel Gookin 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 5 1 

Proceeded to the Choice of Officers and 

Amos Cogswell was chosen . . President 

Bradbury Cilley .... Vice President 
Daniel Gookin .... Sect-^' 
Mich' M'Clary .... Treasurer 
Examined the Treasurers Accounts and there Are in his hands 
Two hundred Seventy-four Dollars and Thirty-One Cents he hav- 
ing Accounted for the interest on the fund to July first One 
thousand Eight hundred and Twenty. — 
Voted that the Treasurer pay to 

Bradbury Cilley out of the interest in his hands Sixty Dollars 
To Joseph Mills sixty Dollars 
to Mich' M^Clary Sixty Dollars 
To Daniel Gookin Sixty Dollars 
Voted that the Next Annual Meeting be holden at General But 
lars in Deerfield — 

Daniei. Gookin Sect^ 

DEERFIELD July 4'" 182 1 

At a meeting of the Cincinnati Society held this day 
Present 

Bradbury Cilley 
Mich' M'^Clary 
Proceeded to the Choice of Officers And 

Amos Cogswell was Chosen . President 

Bradbury Cilley .... Vice Presedent 
Daniel Gookin .... Sect^ 
Mich' M'Clary .... Treasurer 
The Treasurers Accounts were examined and Approved and 
Accepted and there Are in his hands of the interest drawn from 
the fund, Seventy-Seven Dollars forty-two Cents he having 
Accounted for the interest drawn to July i'"' 1821 

$77-4 2 

Voted that the Treasurer pay to the Widow Abigail Sullivan 
Ten Dollars 

To the Children of Captain John Sullivan Fifteen Dollars 

Voted that the Society meet at Portsmouth on the fourth day of 
July Next at 10 oclock — 



52 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

PORTSMOUTH July 4'" 1822 — 

The Cincinnate Society having Met 
Present — 

Bradbury Cilley 
Mich" M'Clary 
Daniel Gookin 
Proceeded to the Choice of Officers 

Amos Cogswell .... President 
Bradbury Cille} .... Vice President 
Daniel Gookin .... Sect^ 
Mich' M'-'Clary .... Treasurer 
Examined the Treasurers Accounts which were Approved and 
Accepted — there are in his hands of Interest drawn from the fund 
belonging to the Society Ninety-Nine Dollars Forty-two Cents the 
Treasurer having Accounted for interest to July i**^ 1822 — 

99-42 

Voted that the Next Anual Meeting be held at Portsmouth at 
the House of Nath' Brown at 10 o'Clock, A. M. 

Daniel Gookin Sect^ 

PORTSMOUTH July 4'" 1823 — 
Present 

Mich' M^Clary 
Daniel Gookin 
Proceeded to the Choice of Officers 

Amos Cogswell .... President 
Bradbury Cilley .... Vice President 
Daniel Gookin .... Sect^ 
Mich' M'Clary .... Treasurer 
Examined the Treasurers Account there are in his hands One 
hundred fortv-three Dollars and seventy Eight Cents Interest bv 
him accounted for to July i'* 1823 

1 43=78 

Voted that the Treasurer pay to Charlotte Page daughter of the 
late Joseph Mills Fifteen Dollars — 

Voted that the Treasurer pay to the Children of John Sullivan 
Ten Dollars 

Voted that the Next Annual Meeting be held at Portsmouth 

Daniel Gookin Sect^ 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 53 

\_Henry Dearborn, Delegate, to General Sullivan. '\ 

^. Exeter Tune 8"' 1784 — 

having been detain'd much longer than I expected on my late 
Journey, it will be so late before I git my fammily to Kennebeck, 
that it will not be in my power to attend the annual meeting the 4^'' 
July. — the Newspapers inform you of what we have done, I dare 
say many of our breathring will start at the alterations which we 
have made in the Institution. I confess I should have been better 
pleas'd with the institution in some respects, had not so material 
alterations have taken place, but we found our selves reduced to 
the single alternative of making such alterations as we have, or 
attempt to stand without the President Gen', he was very much 
alhirm'd, & in fact it appeerd that the clammer through the States 
at large, & in Congress as well as with our foreign Ministers was 
very general, some letters from several of the principle characters 
in the French Army & Navy had great weight with many, — in 
which letters it was said that the hereditary part would undoubt- 
edly be disagreable to the democratic sentiments of our country, 
— & that it would not be strange, as it was a new thing in Europe 
for an order of merit to descend, — & ever}'- man must see at first 
view that there is an absurdety in attempting to transmitt real 
merit to posterity, — I have said before that those expressions had 
great weight with man3^ — & if we coolly ask our selves what 
ware our principle motives when we entered into the order, or at 
least what we pretended, were our motives, & what we endeav- 
oured to convince the people ware our real motives, — at the same 
time taking into concideration the character of the man by whose 
name we have Christen'd our society, — & after satisfying our 
selves in those facts, ask wheather all those purposes which we 
had a right to wish to be answered by the institution cannot be 
fully answerd as the institution now stands. I am reather inclined 
to suppose the canded honest man will answer in the affirmative 
if he can for a moment divest himself of that illnature which the 
conduct of the people at large towards us, has unavoidably 
created, but wheather any one can fully perform the task is a 
question with me; (Judging from my own feelings). — Maj'" L 
Enfant arrived the first of May with letters from the Gentlemen of 
the French Army & Navy expressing their gratitude in the warm- 
est possible terms, for the honours conferred on them by the 

Note. —These documents were copied from original loose papers in the possession of the 
New Hampshire Historical Society. 



54 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

society, he brought many petetions from various characters to be 
admited, he likewise brought about 150 eagles, some diplomes & 
a die to stamp the meddles, & the copper plate to compleet a suf- 
ficient number of diplomes — The President will take the direc- 
tion of those matters — the Eagles cannot be made in x\merica, — 
but may be procured in France or England, — the French Gentle- 
men esteem the order as the first order of merit in the world, & 
put it on above any of their orders, — Maj'" Debushett, came from 
France to Philadelphia on no other business but to petetion the 
Gen' meeting to be admited; — he has served two years & ten 
months in our Army in the character of an Officer, but could not 
obtain the order in France, he has obtain'd the order of S' Loues 
for his service in the late war, but could not be satisfied without 
the Cincinnati. — 

inclosed is an ace' of my expences — 

Henry Dearborn, Delegate. 

Hon"' Maj-" Gen' Sullivan/ 

[The name of Lt. Col. Henry Dearborn has been cut from the 
original of the above copy.] 



[^Letter of George Washington.'] 
^. Mount Vernon in Virginia Oct'' 31'* 1786 — 

I take this early opportunity, in my character of President of 
the Cincinnati, of announcing to you, that the triennial General 
Meeting of the Society is to be convened at the city of Philadel- 
phia on the first Monday of May in the year 1787 — 

As it will not be in my power (for reasons which I shall have 
the honor of immediately communicating) to attend the next gen- 
eral meeting ; And as it may become more and more inconvenient 
for me to be absent from my Farms, or to receive appointments 
which will direct me from my private affairs ; I think it proper 
also to acquaint you for the information of your Delegates to the 
General Meeting, that it is my desire not to be reelected to the 
Presidency, since I should find myself under the necessity of 
declining the acceptance of it. 

The numerous applications for information made to me in con- 
sequence of my Military command, the multiplicity of my corri- 
spondencies in this country as well as in many parts oi Europe ; 
the variety and perplexity of my own private concerns, which, 
having been much deranged by my absence through the war. 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 55 

demand my entire And unremitting attention ; the arduousness of 
the task, in which I have been as it were unavoidably engaged of 
superintending the opening the navigation of the great Rivers in 
this state ; the natural desire of relaxation and tranquility, from 
business, which almost every one experiences at my time of life, 
particularlv, after having acted (during a considerable period) as 
no idle unspectator in uncommonly busy and important scenes ; 
and the present imbecility of my health occasioned by a violent 
attack of the fever and ague, succeeded by rheumatick pains (to 
which I have been, till of late an Entire stranger) ; will I doubt 
not, be considered as reasons of sufficent validity to justify my 
conduct in the present instance. 

Although the whole of these reasons could not have been before 
operated ; yet in conformity to my determination of passing the 
remainder of my days in a state of retirement, I should certainly 
have refused to accept the office of President with w' hich I was 
honored in 1784, but from an apprehension that my refusal, at 
that time might have been misrepresented as a kind of dereliction 
of the society on my part, or imputed to a disapprobation of the 
principles on which it was then established — To convince the 
opposers of the Institution, should any such remain, that this was 
not the fact ; and to give no colourable pretext for unreasonable 
attacks ; I prevailed on myself to accept the appointment with a 
view of holding it only until the next election ; before which time 
I expected the jealousy that had been excited would subside — and 
this I am happy to be informed has universally taken place. — 

Highly approving as I do, the principles on which the society 
is now constituted ; and pleased to find, so far as I have been able 
to learn from reiterated enquiries, that it is acceptable to the good 
people of the United States in general ; it only remains for me to 
express the sense I entertain of the honor conferred by the last 
General Meeting in electing me their President, and to implore in 
future the benediction of Heaven, on the virtuous associates in 
this illustrious Institution — 

During the residue of my continuance in office, I shall be con- 
stantly ready to sign such Diplomas as may be requisite tor the 
members of your state society, being sincerely desirous of giving 
every possible proof of attachment, esteem, and affection for 
them : as well as of demonstrating the sentiments of perfect con- 
sideration and respect with which I have the honor 

to be y"" most obed' and 

most Humble Servant, 

Ge*^ Washington 



56 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

P. s. 

I have thought it expedient to forward a transcript of this circu- 
lar address to Maj"" General Gates, Vice President of the Society 
— In order that the General Meeting may suffer no embarrass- 
ment for want of an official character to preside at the opening of 
it — 

The President of the Society of the Cincinnati — State of New 
Hampshire — 

A true copy — 

J. WixGATE Thornton — 

Boston Oct. 27, 1842 — 

[The following, among the papers of the Society, appears to 
be the original draft of a letter in the handwriting of Daniel 
Gookin, without date, address, or signature, yet of historic value.] 

Sir/ 

your letters of June and July three in Number to the Presi- 
dent of the Cincinnati Society of New Hampshire were not 
received from the post office untill August 25 not knowing they 
were there until I noticed their being advertised by the Post 
Master — 

Death has made great inroads among the Officers of the Revo- 
lutionary Army from New Hampshire and the Survivors are 
much Scattered I know of but one Gen' Officer — that is Gen- 
eral Stark who I suppose will be provided for as soon as Congress 
meet as a Bill was before them for his relief when Congress 
Adjourned, General Stark is not a Member of the Cincinnati 
Society he was the Senior Officer from New Hampshire when the 
Cincinnati Society was formed in Camp but he not approving 
thereof no State Society was formed untill after the Army had 
disbanded and the Officers returned home, when Application 
being made to General Sullivan by the Baron De Stuben on 
behalf of the General Society he (Sullivan) by Advertisement 
requested the Officers to meet and form a State Society The 
request was but poorly complied with a few however did meet & 
form themselves into a society but now on our Anual Meeting on 
the 4 of Julv we Seldom have more than 5 or 6 members present. 
I believe there is but one Field Officer Now living in the State 
that is Major James Carr & I rather think he will come under the 
Act of Congress for affording assistance to the needy, (the 
Major is not a member of the Society,) And indeed I do not 



RECORDS OP^ THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 57 

know of more than 2 or 3 Officers who served in the New Hamp- 
shire line who now reside in the State who were under any of the 
Acts of Congress intitled to half pay or Commutation, but what 
will come clearly within the Act of Congress making provision 
for those who Need assistance from their Country Col" Cogswell 
who was A Captain in the Revolutionary Army in the Massachu- 
setts Line now living in Dover in this State is presid^ of the Cin- 
cin'ati Society, Bradbury Cilley Son of the late General Cilley 
(who was a Col" in the Army) is Now a Member in his fathers 
Stead and is Vice president of the Society Daniel Gookin who 
was a Lieutenant in the Army is Sect' and Gen' Michel M'Clary 
who was A Captain in the Army is Treasurer — 

The Officers of the New Hampshire Line were Mostly Farmers 
Labourious Men Those who Survived the war after being 
unused to Labour for 7 or 8 years found it very painful to go 
immediately to the plow. But after Spending what Little prop- 
erty they possesed the}^ were Compelled too, with Broken fortunes 
and broken Spirits with many of them Death has Closed the 
Scene and the Survivours coming under the Act of Congress of 
Last Session I rather think you Must not calculate on Much 
Assistance from the Surviving Officers the New Hampshire Line 
who now reside within the State, I shall take the first opportunity 
of Laying your Communications before Col" Cogswell the Presi- 
dent and I expect to See General M'Clary the Treasurer in 
September he is best acquainted of any person in the State with 
the Surviving Officers, And if an}^ thing can be done to assist 
you in your application to Congress you shall have immediate 
Notice But should You Not receive any further Communication 
You may without fear of Contradiction Assert the poverty and 
Needy Circumstances of Most of the Surviving Officers of the 
Revolutionary Line of the Army from New Hampshire in Addi- 
tion to the Justice of their Claims, But altho you may not receive 
Assistance from the Officers, From my knowledge of the Gentel- 
men from New Hampshire in the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives in Congress I am fully confident they will exert 
themselves that Ample Justice may be done to the Survivours of 
the Revolutionary Armv 



58 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

SJJames Blanchard to the Officers of the Neiv Ha7nf shire Line.'] 

Philadelphia, June i 1791 
Gentlemen 

You will receive a Circular Letter of my Signature of the 19'^' 
of April Similar to a Number that have been Sent to the Officers 
of the Late American Army and I beg Leave to give you the 
reason of it being done 

When Goverment under the new Constitution was making 
Arrangements for the payment of the Public debt, the Officers of 
the Massachusetts Line prefered a Petition to Congress praying 
that some mode might be Adopted to Ascertain tSie value of the 
Certificates they received for their Pay and Subsistance at the 
Conclusion of the War, and the residue be Still due to them — 

The Representatives of the Southern States Urged the Justice 
of the Claim, and the Impropriety of one Class of men Accu- 
melating such Large Sums for so Small Considerations, from the 
delay of the public to the distress and ruin of an other Class of 
men to whom they were so much Indebted for the freedom and 
Independence they then enjoyed — but the Representatives from 
the Northern States being purchasers of Certificates were of a 
different Opinion, and the petition was rejected, and a funding 
Law passed that Ascertained a Note given for £70,8, that in Seven 
Years had Accumelated £28:12 Interest, to be worth £82, or 
thereabouts — The Officers waited on their representatives on 
their return to the State, who Informed them, that a Funding Law 
had passed, and the value of their Certificates were Ascertained 
by the said Law — but if the United States paid their debt to 
Individuals on the Same principles that one Individual was Com- 
pelled by the Laws of the Country to pay to Another, there was 
a residue that could be paid to the Original Creditor 

The Officers wishing for Tranquility «& Every possible means of 
Justice Observed, that Notwithstanding they had Alienated their 
Certificates Similar to all Other bills of Credit, that had been 
reduced by a scale of Depretiation to their Current value, and 
their Assigns had rec'' a retribution from 300, to 500 per Cent on 
their purchase in Specie by a Law, they would be Contented with 
the residue as it Stood on the public Books 

and Last sessions a Remonstrance was presented to Congress 
wnd^v \.\\Q fctitious Signiture of Original Creditors — demanding 
the said residue to be paid to the present Holders of Certificates 
— This Representation came forward at an Unseasonable time 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 59 

and in Such Indecent and Illiberal Terms that Only three Gentle- 
men from the house of Representatives and M'' Morris from the 
Senate Voted for the Adoption of it 

and as it was declared in Congress by M' Sedgwick M"" Beaud- 
inott A'P Livermore and others and Confirmed by a Majority of 
the members that Notwithstanding the army had been paid in 
paper at 2/6 in the pound they had received Ample Satisfaction 
and that Justice could not be done to other public Creditors be- 
cause the greatest part of the Public debt was in fictidous Certifi- 
cates — The Officers from different States, at different meetings 
Signifying their Uneasiness from a different Opinion desired the 
Letter Might be Circulated and by the Advice and direction of a 
number of Respectable Officers I have done it — 

I am Gentlemen your H'*^^ Ser' 

James Blanchard 

To the Officers of the New Hampshire Line Late American 
Army — 



l_yames Blanchard to yosepk Cilley and George Reid.^ 

^ , Norfolk Virginia 7 May 1702 

Gentlemen ^ ' j ly 

I sent each of you by M"" Reid two pamphlets with a Cercular 
Letter — and sometime after two Others Similar to the Inclosed — 
but wheither you Ever Received them I have not heard — 

I conceive you have received the circular Letter from the Massa- 
chussetts Officers — also from General Hull at Philadelphia — M"" 
Livermore and M'" Gilman can Inform you more particularly if 
they please — 

Tho. M"" Livermore was very bitter in his declamations Against 
discrimination — not from beincr Interested in Certificates — for he 
never rec'' one for any oi his services nor had Confidence enough in 
the Government to buy one — but from a Religious Abhorance to 
the revolution and all that had a hand in it — I should be much 
Oblidgd to you to drop a Line in the post office directed to me at 
New York 

I am Gentlemen Most Respectfully 
Your Humble Servant 

James Blanchard 



6o STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

\_ya7ncs Blanchard to Samuel Livermo?'e.~\ 

_ Virginia May 27, 1792 

br . I ' y 

When you was preparing the funding Law my domestic Con- 
cerns was so distressed that I paid no Attention to it — my Certifi- 
cates being retained untill 1 Accounted for the money I had 
received as Paymaster — In Sept'" following I delivered my 
Vouchers to the Comissioner, and on Comparing them with the 
public Books there was 394''°", 10*' that I Claimed Credit for — 
but Mr. Pierce being dead & the books where the business was 
Transacted could not be found & I was Oblidged to Submit — but 
prayed it might be Transfered — this was Refused on a principle, 
that the balance against me was money, and the balance in my 
favour Certificates — and the Treasurer Mr. Merideth purchased 
a Certificate of 734 dollars (which was the rate of exchange) & 
my Account was Settled and a Certificate for the remainder given 
to me 

This Led me into an Enquiry and I Investigated your Transac- 
tions, from the Secretary down to the Jew brokers — I was in 
hopes at the subsequent Session there would be some reconsidera- 
tion — but not finding the Colour of Compunction — I prepared a 
Circular letter which doubtless you have Seen — and the Massa- 
chusetts Officers have Introduced the Application 

but for my part I have not the Colour of hope you are Chiefly 
the same men and I do not Know of any thing that has made a 
Change — 

Your debates in Congress are Litterally Translated and replied 
to — that takes a pamphlet of About 100 pages — also an Explicit 
Address in a Hand bill that takes one page of a Large Sheet of 
paper Stating the Inconveniences of the funding Law and the 
Conveniences that wou'd have Accrued bv discrimination with the 
Name of the member of Congress — recommending at Next 
Election to Make Another Choice — and what will come of it the 
Sequel will only disclose — 

Among your Arguments you Observed that the Original Cred- 
itors might have Kept their Certificates That Esau sold his birth 
right for a Mess of pottage and Heaven and Earth Confirmed the 
sale — 

If a man after the dangers he had been Exposed to, and return- 
ing from the field to Look up the Little brood he had left, been 
Steel'd Against Natural AtTections, Sickness, or the Inclemencies 
of the Weather or the patriot, who had Loaned his money (and 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 6l 

perhaps grown Old) Against the Cravings of Nature, the dis- 
tresses of an Affectionate wife or Seeing his Children Straying on 
a Dunghill — or the Farmer whose fences had been destroyed and 
his Stock diminished by public demands could have replaced 
them by the word of his power — they might have kept their Cer- 
tificates — but must the Example of Esau, when he came fainting 
from the field & Selling his birth right for a Mess of pottage — be 
Established as a precedent by the representatives of the United 
States to Justify their purchasing final Settlements as Jacob did 
the birth right of his brother — and deceitfully taking from him — 
his blessing — 

However as the business Recited to, will be public I will not 
Trouble you with a long Letter and Only 

Subscribe my Self Your 

Humble Servant 

James Blanchard 



^^Resolutions frovi Savannah. '\ 

The standing Committee to whom were referred a Letter from 
John Winslow, recorder, with a Copy of a Petition to the C(jn- 
gress of the UNITED STATES from the State Society of the 
Common Wealth of Massachusetts ; and a copy of a Letter from 
James Blanchard, presented a report, which being read, was 
accepted — WHEREUPON, 

Resolved. — That the Bravery, fidelity, fortitude and patient 
suffering of the Officers and Soldiers of the American Army, dur- 
ing the many trying vicissitudes of the lale Revolution are among 
the principal causes of the Establishment of that Liberty and Inde- 
pendence we now enjoy. 

Resolved. That at the close of the War when large arrears 
were due to them and their accounts not setded, they gave a sin- 
gular and noble proof of moderation when they laid down their 
Arms, and dispersed themselves, relying with an honest confi- 
dence on the faith of Congress, and the assurances of their 
General, that, their long arrears should be fairly and speedily 
ascertained, and the balance with an Interest agreed on, fully 
paid as soon as the deranged and exhausted resources of the 
Country would admit. 

Resolved. That the United States in Congress, and every State 
Seperately have repeatedly acknowledged this unexampled in- 



62 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Stance of moderation, and those faithful services, of the Army, 
and that Congress took proper steps by which the balances due to 
them were ascertained, but from the want of sufficient powers in 
the General Government to compel the States to pay their just 
quota of Public Expences, no provision whatsoever was made, 
for payment either of the principal or Interest by which means 
they became depreciated in some instances to an eighth of their 
nominal sum, which reduced price, the necessity of most of the 
Officers and Soldiers of the Army compelled them to receive, for 
an assignment of their Certificates. 

Resolved. That when the new Constitution was formed to 
establish Justice, and Congress under it were debating on the Sys- 
tem, reported by the Secretary of the Treasury for the support of 
public credit ; a system that proposed a violation of the public 
faith, in refusing to accept on loan the Interest due on part of the 
public debt, and deferring the payment of another part; a system 
manifestly contradictory by affirming in the first instance that the 
resources of the United States were not adequate to pay the full 
Interest of their own debt, and yet proposing to add Twenty-two 
millions of dollars to it by Assuming Debts not their own : 

When Congress were debating this system it was in their 
power, consistently with fair principles of Equity and Justice to 
have provided a remedy for a part of the great injury the army 
had suffered from the former low state of public credit, by adopt- 
ing some one or other of the plans of discrimination, which were 
proposed by several members of unquestional honor, and well 
known abilities, and by which, after allowing considerable profit 
to the assignee, something would still have remained for him who 
had earned it, at the risk of his life. 

Resolved. That tho' it may not be consistent with the principles 
of good faith after this new system has been in part perfected, to 
break in upon it by doing that now, which might well have been 
done then ; yet still we think such proportion of the debt due to 
the Officers and Soldiers of the late American Army as hath not 
been paid to the assignees of their Cerdficates, may still be paid 
to the Original holder, without affecting any creditor under the 
funding Law. —THEREFORE, that a Petidon be drawn to be 
signed by the PRESIDENT on behalf of this Society, stating the 
loss we have sustained, and praying that the difference between 
such certificate, as it would have been paid under the original 
contract, and as it now is under the loan, may be paid to the 



RECORDS OF THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI. 63 

original holder, and such other releif as the wisdom and Justice 
of Congress may think proper to grant. — 

A true copy from the record, Savannah July 6'" 1792. — 

Ja B. Sharpe, Sec"^ 



\jyeremiah Fogg to William Hull.'] 
„. Exeter Oct" 2 s 1702 

I was very sorry not to be able to converse with you while here 
on the Subject of the Circular letter as we have not in this State 
so fully matured the matter as you have in Mass'* Our Officers 
are generally desirous of attempting redress but unfortunately such 
as are in Affluence are backward iindcr a pretence that they can- 
not with a good Grace employ an Agent without supplyifig the 
Means to defray the Expense. Their -pretence I ack?iowledge to 
be too zvell founded ; buf^ such is the dispersed and I may say 
desperate situation of Most of our Officers that no committee 
would undertake to pursue the matter and become Answerable to 
collect an Assessment or subscription — However Col° Reid, L' 
Adams and myself were appointed to Consult you & pursue the 
matter at discretion and accordingly we have drawn up a short 
Memorial to Congress which we wish you to present with that 
from your State should you think it expedient Should you be 
successful I think your Compensation will be certain if not I can 
not engage — In Mass' the subject is old and has inspired you all 
with a degree of enthusiasm in point of success but our faith is 
less than a grain of Mustard seed not on Ace* of the injustice of 
the demand but the impracticality of discrimination — 

I could not obtain a formal Power Signed by the whole Com- 
mittee without a Journ[ey] of 50 miles — Should legal Nicety be 
required please to send me line '^ Post directed to Exeter and I 
will obtain one — 

To William Hull of County of Middlesix Com. of 

Mass. Esq"" 

At a Convention of Officers of the State of New Ham holden 
at Exeter on the of Oc' last whereof ye Hon''' Joseph Cilley 
was Chairman to take into Consideration a Circular letter from the 
late Officers of y'' Massacut' line George Reid Jeremiah Fogg and 
Sam' Adams Esq'' were chosen a Committee to take into Consid- 
eration said Letter and act thereon at discretion 

J ERE Fogg Clerk of s*^ Convent 

1 The section in Italics lias a line drawn through it in the original. 



64 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Therefore by virtue of said Resolution we the said Committee 
do constitute and appoint You y'" said W'" Hull our Attorney to 
present to the Congress of the U. S. a Memorial by us signed dated 
Exeter Oct" 1792 and by all suitable means to urge and enforce 
the same we hereby engaging to acquiesce in whatever you may 
do concerning the promises. C In behalf 

Jerk Fogg ) of the 

f Committee — 



JAN 24 1912 





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